Justin Steele continues to beef up his candidacy for National League Cy Young by pitching shutout baseball against playoff contenders. On Monday, the left-handed starting pitcher set a new career-high with 12 strikeouts in eight shutout innings against the San Francisco Giants, leading the Cubs to a 5-0 win.

This start follows a six-inning shutout effort against the Milwaukee Brewers last week at Wrigley Field in what ended up being a 1-0 win for the Cubs against their division rivals.

Steele is now 16-3 with a 2.55 ERA in 152 innings this season. The lefty now has 19 quality starts in 2023, leading all pitchers in the National League. His latest gem against the Giants has been Steele’s best start of the year and it also led to another career-high, winning his seventh consecutive decision.

Not only has Steele personally won seven straight decisions, the Cubs have now won nine start Steele starts in a row and 14 of 15.

Monday’s outstanding game wasn’t just Steele’s best effort with the Cubs, it was one of the best starts by anyone this entire year.

This is how a true ace performs. They go out there and every time they do, the team and fans expect a win. That’s been Justin Steele all season long.

With Monday’s win over the Giants, the Cubs improved to 74-64, matching their win total from the 2022 season.

2023 NL Cy Young Race

Here is how Justin Steele stacks up among the best starting pitchers in the National League following Monday’s dominant game against the Giants.

2.55 ERA: 2nd
2.98 FIP: 3rd
3.43 xFIP: t-5th
4.3 fWAR: 3rd
16 Wins: t-1st
0.65 HR/9: 1st

In his last two starts, Steele has out-pitched Corbin Burnes and Logan Webb, allowing zero runs in 14 combined innings.