‘Not ideal’: Cubs missing Justin Steele and Jorge Lopez for two weeks amid fight for wild-card spot

As the Cubs continue to fight for a place in the National League wild-card conversation, they had to come to terms with major losses to the pitching staff Wednesday.

Left-hander Justin Steele (tendonitis in left elbow) and high-leverage reliever Jorge Lopez (strained right groin) were put on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to Sunday and Tuesday, respectively. The injuries sidelined two of the team’s most reliable arms, one at the front end and the other at the back end of the pitching equation.