While it is technically not impossible for a team to go 162-0 during the regular season, it’s about as nearly impossible as anything. In 1916, the New York Giants (baseball) won 26 games in a row. That’s as close as anyone has come. The Chicago Cubs came into Monday night winning six straight. But that was as far as the road would take them.
The offense cooled off, pushing just three runs across home plate and generating just six hits. Jameson Taillon pitched seven strong innings, giving up just three hits and not allowing a run. However, Jorge Lopez allowed four runs in the eighth, including two home runs, and that was all she wrote. The Cubs lost 5-3, their first loss in a week.
Not all was bad, though. Shortstop Dansby Swanson continued his hot streak by putting a ball over the left-center field wall for his 13th home run of the year. He and outfielder Ian Happ registered multi-hit nights, the only Cubs to do so, and were responsible for all three runs batted in. It should have been enough to win. Lopez just had an off night.
After giving the game to the Pirates, the loss felt sour. The momentum built from a blistering hot August left some thinking about how Monday night’s collapse of the bullpen felt eerily similar to when things fell apart earlier in the year. Nonetheless, the Cubs are still just 3.5 games back of the Atlanta Braves, who hold the final ticket to the playoffs.
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But the narrative changed after the game. The Cubs made an announcement that not only impacts Tuesday night’s plans but potentially the outlook of their 2024 season.
Cubs Scratch Justin Steele From Starting Tuesday Due To Elbow Soreness
During his postgame meeting with the media, Cubs Manager Craig Counsell revealed they are scratching Justin Steele from his start on Tuesday night. Steele is experiencing some elbow soreness. Kyle Hendricks will make a start in his place.
During last week’s winning streak, Hendricks started against the Pirates in Pittsburgh. He did not make it out of the second inning, giving up six runs on eight hits. Luckily, the Cubs were able to claw their way back and shock the Pirates in the late innings to win.
It’s been a rough season for Hendricks. He holds a 3-10 record with a 6.75 earned run average. He will be going up against the best the Pirates have to offer, Paul Skenes. This will be his fourth start against the Cubs, the most of any other opponent. He holds a 3.00 ERA and a 1-0 record.
To update this story, Justin Steele says imaging was completed and only showed expected inflammation. Steele noted that the irritation has happened before (he went on the injured list in 2023 for something similar). He decided it was something to get checked out now rather than waiting and things getting worse.
Manager Craig Counsell was also encouraged by the imaging results. He said there is no need to put Steele on the injured list at this time. They plan to take things day by day. Steele himself said he plans to be back out on the mound before the season is over.
