While Steele has been steady in maintaining his fastball velocity from start to start, averaging 93.4 mph compared to 94.2 mph as a reliever, Thompson’s velocity dips have been concerning. His stuff waned over the course of the game and has featured a fastball sitting at 92.4 mph in his three starts. As a reliever, Thompson’s fastball averaged between 93.8 and 96 mph during his 26 relief appearances for the Cubs this year. A decrease in velocity is expected when a pitcher goes from throwing shorter one or two-inning outings versus trying to maintain stuff over, ideally, five-plus innings. Even so, Thompson has visibly been out of whack at times in his starting role.
