Cubs’ Steele leaves with tight hammy, to get MRI

ARLINGTON, TEXAS — Cubs starter Justin Steele left his start in the fifth inning with left hamstring tightness Thursday after tumbling onto the turf at Globe Life Field while fielding a bunt.

Steele bounded off the mound to flag down a bunt laid down by Texas’ Leody Taveras up the first base line. He fielded the ball and threw Taveras out at first 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.

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

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 4⅔ innings before departing. He struck out six.