The Cubs don’t know when Justin Steele will return to lead their rotation.

Sure, they hope it’s the minimum, 15-day injured list stint like they thought on Wednesday when they placed him on it. But Friday’s news that he’d be receiving another opinion on his left elbow tendinitis, is worrisome.

[Justin Steele injury update: Latest on Cubs pitcher’s elbow, MRI results]

“Justin Steele’s one of a kind, right?” Cubs’ left-hander Matthew Boyd told reporters in Los Angeles after the Cubs’ 3-0 loss to the Dodgers on Friday night. “And, regardless of whatever the time that he’s out, whatever that may be, you can’t replace Justin Steele because he’s one of one. He’s really talented.”

It doesn’t mean the Cubs are throwing a pity party.

“That being said, it’s that next man up mentality,” Boyd said. “And we have a very, very, talented rotation. We have a lot of experience, and we also have a lot of young guys that are very talented.”

Boyd has been terrific in his first three outings as a Cub. He carries a 1.59 ERA in 17 innings and started his tenure with his new team with 16.1 scoreless innings. He’s shown flashes of being a top-of-the-rotation arm after signing a two-year deal with the Cubs in the offseason.

That type of performance would be a nice compliment to Shota Imanaga, who has picked up where he left off last season. The second-year left-hander has a 2.70 ERA and 0.90 WHIP in 23.1 innings. Jameson Taillon has thrown back-to-back quality starts and will likely need a few more outings for his season numbers to come down after surrendering six runs in 4.1 innings against the Diamondbacks in his season debut.

Those three form a solid three-man, top of the rotation. And they have options to fill the other roles in the rotation.

The Cubs can move right-hander Colin Rea, who they signed to a one-year deal this offseason, into the rotation. He’s been an effective long-relief option to start the year. They also can call up someone like left-hander Jordan Wicks, their 2021 first-round pick. He was scratched from a scheduled start on Friday. Javier Assad begins a rehab assignment with the Iowa Cubs on Tuesday and could be back before the end of the month. They have choices to fill out their rotation.

Make no mistake, though – Steele elevates that group. But injuries, even to key arms happen all the time – and the Cubs need look no further away than the opposing dugout this weekend. The Dodgers currently have 12 pitchers on the injured list. They won the World Series last year relying on three starters during their playoff run.

“For however long that Justin’s going to be down for we have guys that can step up and perform in those roles,” Boyd said. “We’re excited for that. The championship teams, that’s what has to happen. That’s what we’ll do and we’re lucky that we have depth.”