(Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
Chicago Cubs left-hander Justin Steele has emerged as the team ace this season.
He entered Monday’s action with a 2.69 ERA and 141 strikeouts in 144 frames, with an equally elite 1.17 WHIP.
He has embraced his role as the leader of the pitching staff as the team tries to get closer to first place in the NL Central, held by the 76-60 Milwaukee Brewers.
The 74-64 Cubs are three games behind, and anything can happen from this point until the end of the regular season.
Steele and the Cubs had a tough assignment on Monday: the San Francisco Giants, a team that is also fighting for its spot in the postseason via the Wild Card.
Thanks to Steele’s incredible performance, the Cubs were able to win, 5-0.
Steele tossed eight scoreless innings with just two hits and two walks.
He struck out a career-high 12 hitters.
After the outing, his ERA went down to 2.55.
Marquee Sports Network, the Cubs’ regional broadcaster and media partner, posted a video of Steele getting his 11th strikeout, which helped him set a new career-best.
JUSTIN STEELE.
Career-high 11 strikeouts pic.twitter.com/gT82Yf6WKG
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) September 4, 2023
That was before the 12th and final “K” of the day, the one that put the finishing touches on his masterpiece.
The Cubs struck gold with Steele.
Do you care to guess how much he is making in 2023?
The league minimum.
Of course, we would all like to see stars get paid more, but from a roster construction standpoint, Chicago has a cheap ace for what is left of 2023 and four additional seasons.
Steele is one of the most under-appreciated stars in today’s game, and any doubts of him being ace material should be completely gone by now.
The post Justin Steele Continues To Thrive With Another Elite Outing appeared first on The Cold Wire.