The absence of Justin Steele has left the Cubs with three legitimate candidates to serve as the team's playoff ace.
Had you asked any Chicago Cubs fans before the season who the team's Game 1 starter in the playoffs would be (assuming the team made it to October), you would have gotten two answers in response: Justin Steele and Shota Imanaga.
Of course, Steele made it all of 22 2/3 innings before suffering a season-ending elbow injury, thrusting Imanaga into the uncontested ace spotlight.