The Cubs are six games back with 11 to play and they don’t hold any tiebreaker advantages, so even winning out means the Mets would have to go 4-7 to lose their spot. But even with Jed Hoyer saying several weeks ago that the focus is on 2025, they’re clearly still doing everything they can to compete right now. That’s part of why they did more buying than selling at the deadline, it’s why the top prospects remain in Iowa, and it’s why Justin Steele is starting this afternoon.
Steele hasn’t made an appearance since August 27 and he’s been on the IL since the start of April with elbow tendinitis.