5 bold predictions for the 2024 Chicago Cubs season

5 bold predictions for the 2024 Cubs - 2. Justin Steele throws a no-hitter

At the forefront of the Chicago Cubs' pitching staff is ace Justin Steele. Last season, Steele recorded a 3.06 ERA with a 16-5 record. On top of that, he notched 20 quality starts in 2023. He started the year strong with five QSs in April and proved he could get late into a game every time he stepped on the mound. It wasn't until two poor outings at the end of the season that his ERA dipped back down into the 3.00s, where he previously had sat in the 2.00 range all season and was a front-runner for the Cy Young Award.

Steele came somewhat close to a no-hitter last year. On September 4 against the San Francisco Giants, he recorded 8.0 shutout innings of two-hit ball. The only thing that held him back from going for the complete game shutout was his pitch count sitting at 107 after the 8th inning and former Manager David Ross deciding to pull the plug after the Cubs went up 5-0 in the bottom half. I expect Steele to build on these outings this coming season and will not be surprised if he records his first no-hitter.