Chicago Cubs left-hander Justin Steele faces a significant setback as he is set to undergo season-ending surgery to repair a flexor tendon and potentially address damage to his ulnar collateral ligament (UCL). Cubs manager Craig Counsell expressed the challenge of replacing Steele, highlighted by his impressive 3.18 ERA since becoming a full-time starter in 2022. Colin Rea is expected to step in for Steele in upcoming games, with Javier Assad nearing a return from injury. Despite a promising start to the season, the Cubs now face an uphill battle in maintaining their playoff ambitions without Steele's contributions. The team hopes to leverage its depth to fill the void left by Steele's absence as they navigate a tough April schedule.