Cubs Option LHPs Rex Brothers, Justin Steele to South Bend as Rosters Drop to 28

The Cubs have optioned left-handed pitchers Rex Brothers and Justin Steele to the club’s alternate site in South Bend, reducing the active major league roster from 30 to 28 players. Though initial plans called for an addition reduction to 26 players in two weeks, rosters will remain at 28 for the remainder of the season. Taxi squads for road games, however, will increase from three to five players.

The 32-year-old Brothers signed a minor league contract with the Cubs last December and had appeared in two games. He posted an 11.57 ERA in those outings and struck out five batters, two of which came in a scoreless inning Milwaukee on July 25.

Steele, 25, was recalled August 2 but did not appear in any games in his first stint on a major league roster. Originally selected by the Cubs in the fifth round of the 2014 draft out of George County High School in Lucedale, MS, he has gone 16-23 with a 3.62 ERA in 80 professional appearances. Though he’s worked almost exclusively as a starter, Steele’s future could be in the bullpen.

Chicago’s 60-man Player Pool roster remains at 58 players, with 28 active players — plus three on the 10-day injured list — in Chicago and 27 more in South Bend.