Cubs Injuries: Patrick Wisdom day-to-day, Justin Steele to start Friday

The less-than-clear (and less than ideal) update on injuried outfielder Seiya Suzuki stole headlines this week, but he's not the only Cubs player who's been sidelined. While Cody Bellinger returned to the lineup Wednesday after missing a few days feeling under the weather, Patrick Wisdom and Justin Steele are two key contributors who haven't been on the diamond of late.

Cubs News: Patrick Wisdom still sidelined; Justin Steele close to return

Wisdom missed game action Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday with a lingering left groin issue and, according to Cubs skipper David Ross, is 'day-to-day'. Obviously, with the very real possibility Suzuki could be a non-factor for the team by Opening Day, the club needs Wisdom's bat and the power it brings in the lineup.

After setting the franchise rookie record, hitting 28 home runs in just 375 at-bats in 2021 and followed it up with 25 more long balls in 2022 to go along with 28 doubles. He's likely to form a platoon at third with left-handed power bat Edwin Rios - but Ross has also mentioned him as a potential fill-in out in right field should Suzuki miss considerable time.

As for Steele, he's a major piece to the rotation puzzle. The left-hander broke out in 2022 but was scratched from his first spring start with arm fatigue. All is well, though, after throwing a bullpen on Tuesday, with Ross saying he looked "really good." Here's what the southpaw had to say about a slower start to his spring and his missed Cactus league start.

"You could look at it both ways. I definitely worked hard this offseason. I’ve done a lot to get to where I am today. Just made sense for us to not press the gas pedal because I’m already in a really good spot.’ "

Justin Steele, via Sun-Times

That's great news for Chicago, who will rely on a blend of young pitchers like Steele and fellow potential rotation mate Hayden Wesneski (who looked sharp on Wednesday afternoon) and experienced veterans like Marcus Stroman and Jameson Taillon, this year. We'll be keeping an eye out for Wisdom updates later in the week and hopefully he can start working his way back into the lineup next week.