Chicago Cubs left-hander Justin Steele will receive “another opinion” on his elbow tendinitis, manager Craig Counsell told reporters in Los Angeles on Friday afternoon.

Steele was placed on the 15-day injured list Wednesday, two days after he experienced discomfort in the elbow while striking out eight in seven shutout innings against the Texas Rangers. On Thursday, he underwent an MRI that made the Cubs decide to seek a second look.

Counsell reiterated it’s still a similar injury to what Steele dealt with in 2024.

“Obviously had the MRI — we’re going to get some more opinions on it,” Counsell told reporters before the opener of a three-game series against the Dodgers. “We’re kind of dealing with the same thing we dealt with last year. For that reason, I think Justin wants to make sure and we want to make sure we get the right information moving forward.

“So, he’s going to get another opinion, and then we’ll go from there.”

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The “more opinions” phrase — especially when it comes to elbows — always is concerning, and it’s fair to speculate if it could lead to Tommy John surgery, but Counsell stressed the Cubs aren’t jumping to conclusions.

“There’s no decisions right now,” Counsell said. “He wants to get all the information. He wants to get another opinion. Until we do that, I think we got to wait for that and let him use all the information to decide kind of what’s next.”

Steele missed two weeks in September 2024 with left elbow tendinitis and spent time on the IL in June 2023 with a left forearm injury. That’s why the Cubs are seeking more information.

“We’re dealing with the same injury,” Counsell said. “Obviously we want to make sure why it has happened again, and so Justin’s got all the information, and then we can go from there.”

The Cubs’ homegrown ace shared optimism Wednesday that it could be another short IL stint, like the last two seasons.

“I would say I’m leaning that way,” Steele said. “I was coming in yesterday, prepared to go about the normal rotation, standard in-between-start stuff. N​​ow we’ll just be able to figure out exactly what it is and attack it.”

Counsell was vague on that timeline Friday, insisting the Cubs want to have the other opinions before speculating on a return.

“I think when we get all the information, then we’ll make those decisions,” Counsell said.

Steele’s next turn in the rotation would be Sunday, and the Cubs have not announced a starter for that game. Matthew Boyd will get the ball Friday, and Ben Brown will start Saturday. The Cubs likely won’t start Jameson Taillon on Sunday, even though it would be on a five-day rotation. Left-hander Jordan Wicks was scratched from his scheduled start with the Triple-A Iowa Cubs on Friday.

“I think just nature of going into the weekend, we’re going to keep as many pitchers as we can available,” Counsell said.

Cubs injury notes

• Right-hander Javier Assad will join Iowa on a rehab assignment and start Tuesday. He’s recovering from an oblique injury that he suffered at the beginning of spring and could return to the big leagues this month.
• Righty reliever Tyson Miller will pitch for Iowa on Friday as he recovers from a hip injury that’s kept him on the 15-day IL since the team returned from Tokyo.
• Right-hander Ryan Brasier (left groin strain) played catch Friday in LA and is expected to receive his 2024 World Series ring from the Dodgers.
• Utilityman Vidal Bruján is continuing his rehab assignment with Iowa.