MESA, Ariz. – Cubs lefty Justin Steele, after having to skip his previous Cactus League start due to illness, cleared the last hurdle he needed to Tuesday before boarding the plane to Tokyo.
“Felt good, felt normal,” Steele said after throwing 3 ⅔ innings. “Didn’t really think too much of it as I was preparing today. Didn’t really even notice that I was skipping a start or anything like that. Body felt good. Felt good throughout the outing today. Got the pitch count up, was able to get some up-downs in there, get that settled before we go to Tokyo and into the regular season.”
All those checkpoints were far more important than the line score. Steele allowed seven runs – five of which came in the first inning – and 10 hits against the Brewers on Tuesday.
His next start is set to be Game 2 of the Tokyo Series, opposite the Dodgers’ Roki Sasaki, who will be making his major-league debut.
“It’s going to be electric the entire time,” Steele said. “Just watching videos of how their fans really get into the games and stuff like that, it’s going to be a ton of energy in the building. The players that both teams are bringing, it’s gonna be really exciting. I’m just excited to get there and engulf myself in how everything’s done over there.”
As the Cubs set their Tokyo Series travel roster, the pitching picture was the most unique. The Cubs only need two starters for the regular season games. But they still have to cover four games-worth of innings.
“You want quality, and you’ve got to think about backup plans,” manager Craig Counsell said. “There’s scenarios that could play out, as unlikely as they are – the fact that you can’t go get a player for the second game is relevant. And that we’re limited on what we’re going to expose pitchers to, is relevant.”
That’s where players like Jordan Wicks and Ben Brown, who have built up as starters, are especially valuable. Both made the travel roster.
Because of the early start to the season, starters aren’t expected to go deep into games. Shota Imanaga, who is set to start the opener, built up to 75 pitches in his last Cactus League start. Steele estimated he threw 60-65 Tuesday.
The Cubs are planning on a bullpen game for their first exhibition, against the Hanshin Tigers. That will give their relievers extra rest before Opening Day. Right-hander Jameson Taillon is set to start the second exhibition game, against the Yomiuri Giants, manager Craig Counsell announced Tuesday.
Brewers 9, Cubs 7
To combat the Brewers’ five-run first inning, the Cubs put together a four-run rally in the bottom half of the inning. Ian Happ and Kyle Tucker walked to put runners on first and second. Happ scored on a wild pitch, and Tucker advanced to third with Michael Busch up. Busch hit an RBI single. Then Matt Shaw drove him in with a double off the wall. Pete Crow-Armstrong got in on the fun with an RBI single of his own.
- It was a big day for getting relievers work. Five of the six relievers in the game are on the Tokyo travel roster.
- All eight of the Cubs’ hits came from different players.
- On deck: The team travels to Tokyo.