Cubs' Steele leaves start against Rangers with hamstring tightness

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Cubspitcher Justin Steele left his start in the fifth inning Thursday night with left hamstring tightness after tumbling onto the turf at Globe Life Field while fielding a bunt.

Steele bounded off the mound to flag down the bunt by Texas' Leody Taveras up the first-base line. Steele fielded the ball and threw Taveras out at first base but crashed to the ground and remained there for a moment before rolling over and grabbing at the back of his left leg, just above the knee.

Manager Craig Counsell and the Cubs' athletic trainer came onto the field to check on Steele, who soon got up and walked off with Counsell at his side. Steele was replaced by reliever Julian Merryweather.

"I was fielding the bunt or whatever and when I was leaning over backhanding the ball, kind of felt something grab," Steele said. "Just kind of went down with it and didn't want to do anything to risk further injury."

Steele will have an MRI on Friday morning and a trip to the injured list is expected, Counsell said after the game.

Steele, who went 16-5 with a 3.06 ERA en route to a fifth-place finish in last season's NL Cy Young balloting, held the Rangers to one run and three hits over 4 innings of Chicago's 4-3 loss before departing. He struck out six.

"You're thinking that it's just a shame," Counsell said. "He's pitching really, really well. Obviously, an important member of the team. This is a part of a baseball season. Injuries are going to happen, and you've got to rebound from them, recover from them."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.