Small Cubs injury updates for Justin Steele, Shelby Miller allow for big bullpen dreams before postseason

There's no question the Chicago Cubs will be looking for high-leverage relief pitchers to add before the trade deadline on Monday, and that needs to be the priority. Related, but not as a means to be used as a crutch for deadline inactivity, the Cubs are positioned to have some intriguing options available to them in the bullpen in September.

Daniel Palencia, Hunter Harvey and Hoby Milner are the closest to returning. Palencia should be back in the bullpen around the middle of August, as is the case with Harvey. Milner is expected to return around the deadline. While those three returns can be viewed as an expectation for the Cubs, there's two others that can't be counted, but lead to some creative dreams for what the bullpen could look like by the time the postseason starts.

Shleby Miller pitched in game action on Tuesday, marking another indicator that he should be back in the bullpen by the end of the season.

While Justin Steele has been with the Cubs over the past few weeks, the team has provided barely any update on his status. That likely is a directive from the front office, considering Jed Hoyer previously sounded bothered by having to clarify what Steele's role could be for the Cubs this season.

By now, it's clear that if Steele does return to the Cubs this season, it won't be as a starting pitcher. It's a small update, but Marquee Sports Network's Alex Cohen recently shared that Steele is continuing to take steps forward in his throwing program, and there remains a chance he is pitching innings of consequence this season.

Justin Steele remains an intriguing thought for the Cubs in September

Again, the version of Steele that potentially returns this season is not one capable of going five inning against the Milwaukee Brewers or Los Angeles Dodgers in a potential postseason series. That said, if Steele is at the point by October that he can give the Cubs two or three innings out of the bullpen, that would be an unexpected, but important development.

Against the Brewers last October, it was clear the Cubs lacked bulk options in the bullpen that could shut an opposing offense down. There's no telling if Steele can be that pitcher for the Cubs, but his recovery does keep the dream alive.

At the very least, Steele can be another option for the Cubs in the bullpen come October. A bullpen that could go from the appearance of a MASH unit to having Palencia, Milner, a potential deadline addition, and Colin Rea available, assumign there's also a starting pitcher added.

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