Introduction to Justin Steele’s Performance
Cubs southpaw Justin Steele’s sinker froze Rangers left-handed hitter Josh Smith. It was a pitch Steele didn’t often unleash, and while most of his pitches to lefties start on the outside half of the plate and move out, this one broke that trend.
Expanding the Strike Zone
“We had two strikes, and I was like, ‘I haven’t thrown him anything that’s going the other way right now,’” Steele said after the Cubs’ 7-0 win Monday. “So I kind of started on that same line, and I feel like it was an auto-take for him because he figured it was going to go off the plate. But it came right back towards the middle. So shout out to [catcher Miguel Amaya] for staying with me on that.” That called strike three capped a dominant start from Steele, his steadiest showing of the season. Throwing seven shutout innings, Steele limited the Rangers to three hits and recorded eight strikeouts.
Development and Strategy
“He’s dominated the right side of the plate for so long, and they know that’s a strength for him,” Cubs pitching coach Tommy Hottovy told the Sun-Times recently. “But how can we continue to open up new areas of a strike zone knowing that, hey, this is my strength, so I’m gonna attack …. But then what can I add?” Part of that answer lies in the rest of his repertoire. On Monday, 10 of Steele’s 91 pitches deviated from his bread-and-butter fastball-slider mix, according to Statcast. But it’s also in location, and making hitters think about the arm side of the plate – outside for right-handed batters and inside for lefties.
Intentional Approach
When Steele started having success early in his career, not even he was always sure where the ball was going to end up. Was his fastball going to cut or ride? What kind of shape was his slider going to have? It was a superpower of sorts. As part of his development, he’s become more intentional with his approach. “The days when your fastball is your Justin Steele fastball, good luck,” Hottovy said. “Whatever you guys want to do – move off the dish, try to get inside him, whatever – he’s going to pound you in and come at you. But on the days when it’s a little off, he has other weapons, he has other things he can go to.”
Game Conditions
Baseball Weather
The temperature had slipped to 34 degrees by the start of the game Monday evening, making it the coldest first-pitch temperature at Wrigley Field since April 18, 2011, when the Cubs eked out a 1-0 victory against the Padres in 10 innings. It was the kind of night when runs and extra-base hits were hard to come by. So, the Cubs took advantage of Michael Busch’s leadoff double in the second inning by moving him over with a sacrifice bunt and scoring him on a sacrifice fly.
Scoring Plays
The next inning, Jon Berti was hit by a pitch, stole second and third, and then beat out the throw home on a grounder to first. In the fifth, Seiya Suzuki walked and stole second before Busch hit a low line drive up the right-field line to cash in another run. A four-run seventh inning featured singles from Amaya, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Ian Happ, Kyle Tucker, and Busch.
Injury Updates
Utility player Vidal Bruján (bruised right elbow) is nearing a minor-league rehab assignment, Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. The team hopes to send him out “earlier in the week.” Right-handed reliever Tyson Miller (left hip impingement) has thrown off a mound. “I’d say there’s some small progress,” Counsell said.
Conclusion
Justin Steele’s performance against the Rangers showcased his ability to expand his strike zone and utilize his pitches more intentionally. This development, combined with the Cubs’ strategic gameplay in challenging weather conditions, led to a dominant 7-0 win. As Steele continues to refine his approach, he’s likely to remain a formidable force on the mound.
FAQs
- Q: What was notable about Justin Steele’s pitch to Josh Smith?
A: Steele’s sinker froze Josh Smith, a pitch that didn’t often go in that direction, especially to left-handed hitters. - Q: How did the Cubs adapt to the cold weather conditions?
A: The Cubs took advantage of any opportunity to score, using sacrifice bunts and steals to move runners around and score on sacrifice flies or grounders. - Q: What is the status of Vidal Bruján’s injury?
A: Vidal Bruján is nearing a minor-league rehab assignment for his bruised right elbow, with the team hoping to send him out earlier in the week. - Q: How has Justin Steele’s approach to pitching evolved?
A: Steele has become more intentional with his pitches, learning to use his repertoire more effectively and making hitters consider the arm side of the plate.
