Can the Cubs survive a rain‑riddled sprint? A brewing Boston storm forced the Red Sox series forward, turning Friday into a doubleheader. Chicago now faces four games in three days, kicking off with today’s afternoon tilt against the Marlins.
The compressed slate pushes the rotation into uncharted territory as the playoff picture sharpens. Chicago clings to a Wild Card berth, dead‑locked with Philadelphia for the No. 2 spot and a game shy of San Diego. Matthew Boyd is slated for Thursday, while David Peterson and Clay Holmes are probable Friday starters.
Left‑hander Justin Steele emerges as a possible Red Sox option. He hasn’t appeared in the majors since April 2025, still nursing elbow surgery recovery. A setback nudged Counsell toward a relief role, though the manager hinted Steele could see Boston soon.
Steele’s recent Triple‑A outings total four, yielding runs in three but tallying 11 strikeouts over 7 2⁄3 innings. His longest effort capped at two innings and 36 pitches. He might serve as a left‑handed piggyback to a right‑handed long reliever such as Colin Rea or Javier Assad.
For my money, activating Steele isn’t worth the 40‑man roster shuffle. Chicago’s roster is already full, and the left‑hander would likely see only a couple of innings. He’s not expected to play a role once October arrives.
A few more injury updates follow for the Cubs.
- Third baseman Alex Bregman is projected to start the postseason as a DH, at least initially. He’s recovering from facial fractures after a foul ball. “I would, frankly, lean towards DH off the bat, just because it’s less,” Counsell told reporters (h/t Mooney). “I’m sure Alex wants to play third, and we want that too, but I’d probably use him as DH at the start.” Bregman avoided the IL, took batting practice with the Trajekt machine Wednesday, and is edging toward defensive duties.
- Right‑hander Kevin Gausman suffered a left‑shoulder strain on the final play of Wednesday’s outing, diving to tag Heriberto Hernandez. He reported lingering soreness and is receiving treatment (h/t Bruce Levine of 670 The Score). The veteran isn’t slated for another regular‑season start, giving him roughly a week to recover before the Wild Card round. Will his shoulder hold up when the postseason arrives?