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Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Justin Steele Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Chicago Cubs: Stock up, stock down

By Michael Carpenter | Last updated 7/1/23

Only five games out of first place in the National League Central, the Chicago Cubs have been able to stick around in the hunt for a playoff spot thanks to some great starting pitching and timely hitting. While not expected to be a playoff team in 2023, the Cubs, with a current record of 38-42, are just a hot run away from leading the division.

Here are the players who have been trending up and down in 2023.

Stock up

Justin Steele, pitcher: After his first season as a full-time member of the Cubs rotation in which he looked like a future ace, Steele has only gotten better in 2023.

With a 9-2 record while posting a 2.43 ERA and holding opposing hitters to hit .221 against him, he has taken the next step to become one of the best pitchers in the majors.

One of Steele's strengths is limiting the long ball. In an era of baseball where ridiculous power is being displayed, he is allowing 0.32 home runs per nine innings pitched in 2023. That places him second in the league behind Sonny Gray of the Minnesota Twins, who's having a dominant season of his own.

Steele is the real deal. #NextStartsHere | @J_Steele21 pic.twitter.com/CC8I40t1t6
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) June 24, 2023

In his 59 career games as a member of the Cubs, Steele has a 17-13 record to go with a 3.17 ERA across 261 1/3 innings pitched.

Marcus Stroman, pitcher: Stroman is the other piece of the Cubs rotation that is having a career year in 2023. Currently 9-5 with a 2.47 ERA, he leads the majors in wins above replacement for pitchers at 3.5 and his ERA ranks third.

A career 3.52 ERA, Stroman has consistently been a top-of-the-rotation pitcher outside of a rough 2018 season. In his first season as a Cub in 2022, he finished the year 6-7 with a 3.50 ERA while missing a good chunk of the season with right shoulder inflammation.

Lowest slugging percentage allowed
(2023 games, qualified pitchers):

Marcus Stroman, .271
Framber Valdez, .318
Shohei Ohtani, .324
Sonny Gray, .329
Joe Ryan, .330
Gerrit Cole, .331
Merrill Kelly, .333
Zack Wheeler, .343
Zac Gallen, .345 pic.twitter.com/5WQ8BNbBL3
— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) June 22, 2023

Holding a $21M player option in 2024, the 32-year-old Stroman will likely opt out and cash in on another deal or try to work out a lucrative extension with the Cubs while continuing his strong pitching.

Stock down

Jameson Taillon, pitcher: Signed to a four-year, $68M deal in the offseason, Taillon has failed to deliver in 2023. In the middle of his worst season as a professional, he is currently 2-6 with a 6.90 ERA while allowing opposing lineups to bat .300 against him.

Although he was selected as the second pick of the 2010 MLB Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates, Taillon has failed to really live up to expectations. With 2018 being his only great season in his four years with the Pirates, Taillon went on to put up two average seasons for the New York Yankees before cashing in with the Cubs.

His contract is looking like it could be one of the worst given out in the past offseason.

Seiya Suzuki, right field: Joining the Cubs in 2022 after nine seasons in Japan, Suzuki was handed a five-year, $85M contract before ever taking a swing in MLB. Like Taillon, his production hasn't been worth the price so far.

After hitting .262 with 14 home runs and 46 RBI in 111 games for the Cubs in 2022, Suzuki has followed that up with a meager .253 average and adding just six home runs and 26 RBI in 62 games. Playing in front of his home fans in Chicago, Suzuki has only managed one home run and 11 RBI while batting .232 in 28 games.

While he has had stretches where he's shown potential, Suzuki isn't having the success that some thought he would and is looking more like a league-average hitter after dominating in Japan.

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