Justin Steele was as solid as the Cubs could have hoped in his first big-league outing in over a month.

But the Cubs’ bullpen struggles — and squandered offensive opportunities spoiled Steele’s return as the Padres beat the Cubs 6-3 Monday night in the series opener at Wrigley Field.

Steele was activated prior to the game, with righty reliever Keegan Thompson being optioned to Iowa. The Cubs’ ace tossed 4.2 scoreless innings, allowing just 3 hits and a walk with 2 strikeouts. It was the fourth straight day a Cubs starter had not allowed an earned run, the first time that has happened since 1901. 

“Felt really good, especially pitching at Wrigley again, in front of the fans,” Steele said after the game. “Really awesome just to be back with the team again in the locker room, hanging out with the guys and stuff. And it felt really good to be out there pitching and obviously the results were good so obviously I like that. But as far as how I felt and stuff, I felt really good.”

.@Cubs starters have gone four straight games without allowing a run for the first time since 1901. pic.twitter.com/aYSkxHAFll

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) May 7, 2024

Lined up against San Diego’s Yu Darvish, Steele — on a pitch limit in his first outing since Opening Day (he finished with 68 pitches) — did enough to keep the Cubs in the game.

“I thought Justin pitched very well,” Counsell said after the game. “We got to build up some endurance still, but for where we’re at I thought he delivered a great performance, exactly what we needed and a great first step.”

But some unfortunate luck coupled with ineffectiveness from the Cubs’ reliever corps had the Cubs playing catch up. After Steele exited with 2 outs in the 5^th, lefty Richard Lovelady picked up the final out on a groundball.

Lovelady returned for the 6^th and allowed 3 straight singles — all with an exit velocity below 86 mph and an expected batting average of .230 or below. Manager Craig Counsell turned to Daniel Palencia, pitching for the first time this season on back-to-back days.

That rust showed, as Palencia allowed the first four hitters he faced to reach and putting San Diego ahead 6-0.

“I think Richard had some bad luck,” Counsell said. “I mean, it was just three kind of balls that fell in and found good spots. I don’t think Daniel had a good night. They hit some balls pretty hard against Daniel. So, we got a chance to get outs and keep that at a 2-run game and couldn’t do it.”

The Cubs offense struggled to deliver the crushing blow.

They stranded 10 runners in the game and were 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position. In the 1st inning, Nico Hoerner led off the frame with a double, advanced to third a batter later but was stranded 90 feet from the plate.

After trimming the deficit to 6-3 in the 7^th, the Cubs brought the tying run to the plate in Christopher Morel, but he grounded into a fielder’s choice to stymie the threat. In the 8^th, the Cubs loaded the bases with no outs, but went strikeout, strikeout and popout to strand all three runners.

The Cubs have struggled with runners in scoring position since both Seiya Suzuki and Cody Bellinger landed on the IL. They are hitting .177 with runners in scoring position — 3^rd worst in baseball in that stretch — and have a .626 OPS, 21^st in baseball.

The Cubs have stranded 89 runners on base in that time, fifth most in baseball.

“Unfortunately, in the 8^th, we couldn’t capitalize,” Counsell said. “They went to [Robert] Suarez and he’s good.”

Notes

• Bellinger had a live batting practice session and did some defensive work before the game. Counsell said that there is a chance he is activated before the end of the homestand on Wednesday.
• Suzuki participated in the live batting practice, too, ran the bases and had defensive drills as well. Suzuki will need a rehab assignment before returning, Counsell said, which should occur in the coming days.
• Kyle Hendricks is starting in a rehab assignment for Iowa on Tuesday.