Chicago Cubs Ace Suffers Apparent Injury vs Texas Rangers

The Chicago Cubs had to remove their Opening Day starter from the game after he suffered an apparent injury on Thursday vs. the Texas Rangers.

Mar 31, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Justin Steele (35) pitches / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Justin Steele left in the fifth inning of Thursday’s game with the Texas Rangers after suffering an injury while fielding a bunt at Globe Life Field.

With the game tied at 1-1 and with a runner at second base, Steele went to field a bunt put down by the Rangers’ Leody Taveras. Steele fielded the bunt cleanly and threw the ball like a shovel pass toward first baseman Michael Busch before falling to the ground.

Steele remained on the ground and as he attempted to get back up he reached for what appeared to be his left hamstring.

Cubs trainers took the field to examine him and after a few minutes he was walked off the field.

At the time he was cruising. He took a no-hitter into the fourth inning before it was broken up by Josh Jung’s double. He left with the game tied, having thrown 4.2 innings, giving up three hits, one run (earned) with a walk and six strikeouts.

Julian Merryweather took over in relief with two outs and a runner at second base.

Steele got the honor of starting on Opening Day after he led the Cubs in victories last season, going 16-5 with a 3.06 ERA. He struck out a career-high 176 in 173.1 innings. He only walked 36. He pitched well enough in the first half to earn a selection to the National League All-Star Team and led the NL in home runs allowed per nine innings with 0.7.

Steele finished in fifth place in Cy Young voting last season. Steele earned a $1 million bonus for finishing in the top five of Cy Young voting and agreed to a $4 million deal with the Cubs for 2024 to avoid arbitration in his first season of eligibility.

Steele entered the season with a career record of 24-16 with a 3.30 ERA with 361 strikeouts and 113 walks.