LOVELAND, Colo. -- For the first time in 1,020 or so days, Gabriel Landeskog has some fresh game tape to examine. Game tape of him hitting players, taking hits, being called for a penalty and even putting someone in a headlock.

"A headlock," he said with a grin Friday night, "wasn't necessarily planned when I woke up this morning."

His emotional journey back from a serious knee injury took center ice as he suited up in a professional game for the first time in nearly three years when he joined the Colorado Eagles of the American Hockey League.

The longtime Colorado Avalanche captain is on loan to the Eagles as part of a minor league conditioning assignment. He participated in the morning skate Friday at Blue Arena, and was given the green light to make his Eagles debut against the Henderson Silver Knights.

He went through pregame drills -- without his helmet so his blond hair was easy to spot -- to cheers and was serenaded with chants of "Landy, Landy, Landy" just before puck drop. The fans cheered when he left the ice after his first shift, which lasted about 46 seconds, and again after he went to the penalty box, with his image shown on the big screen (he waved to the crowd).

He soaked in every moment over the course of an evening filled with checks, spills, a hooking penalty called on him and all the applause.

"I'm excited about what the future looks like for me," Landeskog said after the Eagles' 2-0 win in which he played just under 15 minutes.

Landeskog received praise from several Silver Knights players, including one who told him before a faceoff, "It's great to have you back."

"It's what makes this game so great -- you go out and put somebody in a headlock, and then the next faceoff, somebody says something nice to you," Landeskog said. "It's pretty cool. The support, even from players around the league, and obviously here as well, it means a lot."

This was a pricey ticket, too (around $200). His just-unveiled Eagles No. 92 sweater was coveted as well, with fans waiting in a long line that snaked around the concourse for a chance to purchase one. His Avalanche jersey was a popular sight all over the venue.

Landeskog has been sidelined since he helped the Avalanche win the Stanley Cup in 2022 because of a knee injury and subsequent surgeries.

If all goes well with his Loveland stint, the 32-year-old gritty forward from Sweden could be activated for Game 1 of Colorado's first-round playoff series. The Avalanche enter the postseason locked into the Central Division's No. 3 seed and will open on the road.

"I have high expectations of myself. I'm also realistic in knowing what I've gone through, and how much time is missed," said Landeskog, who has been nearly a point-a-game player in six playoff runs with the Avalanche. "I don't want to look too far ahead. But I do know that I feel good today, hopefully I feel good tomorrow and we can keep working. I can keep practicing and we'll see where it takes us."

This was just another step along what's been an arduous journey.

"I'm excited for him and his family," Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said Friday before the team left for its two-game trip to California to close out the regular season. "To finally get back on the ice in a game situation, I'm just thrilled for him."

Some of his Avalanche teammates, such as Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, made the roughly 50-mile trek north to Loveland in order to catch a glimpse of No. 92 in an Eagles sweater. MacKinnon and Makar were among several players skipping Colorado's final trip to get some rest before the playoffs.

"He put a lot of work in, a lot of time," defenseman Erik Johnson, a longtime friend of Landeskog, recently said. "It's something he didn't have to put his body through but wanted to for the team. To have him get this far in his recovery is exciting for us."

Landeskog's injury dates back to the 2020 "bubble" season when he was accidentally sliced above the knee by the skate of Makar in a playoff game against Dallas. Landeskog eventually underwent a cartilage transplant procedure on May 10, 2023, and has been on long-term injured reserve.

The procedure was similar to the one performed on Chicago Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball in March 2023. Ball returned to the court for a preseason game in October, which hinted at a possible timeline for Landeskog's return.

Landeskog's comeback has been the subject of a documentary series called "A Clean Sheet: Gabe Landeskog" that's airing on TNT and TruTV.

"It felt a little bit surreal driving up here for morning skate," Landeskog said. "[The game] couldn't come fast enough. I was really excited. It's an odd feeling when you've been looking forward to something for so long, and then all of a sudden you get to do it."

As for the plan moving forward, Landeskog's not fully sure. He might play again Saturday -- if his knee feels up to it.

For now, he's just appreciative of all the support.

"I never thought this was going to get to this point and get this big and get this much attention," Landeskog said. "I was just trying to fight my way back, and here we are.

"It was a fun night. Now, I'm tired. I'm looking forward to sleep."

NEW ORLEANS -- Saints quarterback Derek Carr has a shoulder injury that could put his status for the 2025 season in jeopardy, according to multiple reports Friday.

The Saints are scheduled to begin their offseason training program Monday. The injury now puts Carr's attendance in question as the team begins its first 2025 preparations under new coach Kellen Moore.

Carr has not played a game since he broke several bones in his non-throwing hand in a Week 14 matchup against the New York Giants. He missed seven games total in 2024 due to oblique and hand injuries, and the Saints started Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener in his place.

Carr last dealt with a shoulder injury in 2023, when he sprained his AC joint at the beginning of the season, but he did not miss any games.

Carr has two years remaining on the contract he signed in 2023, but a source told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler that he was open to testing the market earlier in the offseason. The Saints ended up restructuring his contract instead, effectively tying him to the team through the 2025 season.

The Saints hold the ninth pick in this month's NFL draft and have four quarterbacks on the roster: Carr, Haener, Rattler and Ben DiNucci. They currently have about $27 million in cap space available if they wanted to sign another quarterback.

NFL Network first reported news on Carr's shoulder injury.

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- After two rounds at Augusta National, the 79th Masters tournament has delivered the goods.

Fourteen of the top 25 players in the world find themselves within six shots of the lead heading into the weekend, and the two betting favorites -- Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy -- are just three and two shots back, respectively.

Justin Rose continues atop the tournament, but finishing the job will not be easy. Some of the sport's best are chasing him.

What will a stacked leaderboard bring?

Mark Schlabach: There are myriad options with eight golfers within three shots of the lead and 11 only four behind Rose. Could we get the Rory vs. Scottie showdown on Sunday that everyone wanted? Could it be Rory or Scottie carrying the PGA Tour's flag against LIV Golf League captain Bryson DeChambeau in the final 18 holes?

When you have a leaderboard this loaded -- Viktor Hovland, Jason Day, Hideki Matsuyama, Collin Morikawa and Ludvig Åberg are also within five shots of Rose -- there are endless possibilities.

"It's exciting. It's the Masters," said three-time green jacket winner Phil Mickelson, who won't be around for the final two rounds after missing the cut at 5 over. "The best players seem to rise. It's going to be an exciting weekend."

Paolo Uggetti: I think Augusta National, as it's prone to do, has brought out the best in the best of the world over two days. If you look at players who missed the cut, there isn't a truly big name (outside of maybe Brooks Koepka) that couldn't make it to the weekend. That means the course has done its job of identifying who is playing the best golf right now and also that the top players in the world brought their A-game to the year's first major.

It has been striking to see the incredible moments and elite shotmaking we've already witnessed. Outside of Rose's opening-round 64, no round has looked straightforward or easy.

"This course takes it out of you physically and mentally, more so than most other golf courses," McIlroy said. "We've got 36 holes to go on a very, very tough golf course."

Despite the wet weather Monday night and Thursday overnight into Friday, Augusta has held up incredibly well, retaining its firmness and giving players plenty to think about as they chart their way around the course. The course should continue to get firmer and play faster come the weekend, and a warm Sunday forecast should set up a fantastic finish.

"This place is so good at getting the golf course in the condition or setting it up properly and not letting the weather get away from them, which is a surprise to nobody," Justin Thomas said. "But I feel like with how the weather looks this weekend, it's going to be very challenging."

Who outside the top 10 has the best chance to still win?

Schlabach: There are a couple of former Masters champions, Hideki Matsuyama (2021) and Patrick Reed (2018), lurking just outside the top 10 at 3 under. Obviously, they both know what it takes to get it done on the weekend at Augusta National, and I wouldn't be surprised if either one of them makes a charge over the final 36 holes.

Matsuyama, the only Japanese man to win a major championship, would be even further up the leaderboard if he hadn't made a double bogey on the par-5 13th in the first round. He had an eagle on No. 2 on Friday and added four birdies and two bogeys to post a 4-under 68 in the second round.

Matsuyama's putter will have to heat up for him to do it. He lost more than three strokes to the field on the greens over the first 36 holes, according to DataGolf.com. But his iron play and driver have been lights-out; he gained 4.43 strokes on approach and 6.52 strokes tee to green in the second round.

Reed helped Augusta State win national championships in men's golf in 2010 and 2011. Then he held off Rickie Fowler, Jordan Spieth, Jon Rahm, McIlroy and others to slip on a green jacket in 2018. Reed had three straight top-25s in the LIV Golf League coming into Augusta National, where he always seems to play well. He finished in the top 12 in four of his past five starts here.

Reed is in contention even though his putter has betrayed him so far.

Uggetti: There are a lot of guys tied for 12th place at 3-under who are intriguing, but I'm going to go a bit further down and zero in on two-time major champion Xander Schauffele, who is tied for 17th after shooting 3-under Friday and sitting just six shots back of Rose.

Schauffele is not in midseason form after missing a handful of early-season tournaments with a rib injury, but his game is clearly still there. The 2024 Open and PGA champion gained nearly four strokes on the field with his approach play Friday and is fifth in the field in strokes gained: approach, per DataGolf.

"I think I can hit the shots. Confidence is a tender thing. I'm going to have to build that up," Schauffele said. "It's not going to just -- as much as I'd like to wake up and feel like last year, that's just not how it goes. I'm starting to hit some really nice shots, and that helps the confidence."

As Schauffele pointed out, his putter hasn't exactly helped the cause. He's losing almost a full stroke to the field with the putter, which will need to catch some heat if he's going to make a run on the weekend. But after winning two of the past three majors, Schauffele's game seems capable of doing just that, even if he's not fully back to major form.

"I didn't shoot myself out of it," Schauffele said. "But I'm going to have to move on moving day."

Who has been the biggest surprise?

Schlabach: I'll go with Hovland, who is tied for ninth at 4 under. I have no doubt that Hovland is one of the most talented golfers in the world. He is a seven-time winner on the PGA Tour and captured the 2023 FedEx Cup.

Even though Hovland won the Valspar Championship on March 23, his first victory since going back-to-back at the 2023 BMW Championship and Tour Championship, his game has been a mess.

The Norwegian golfer is constantly searching for perfection and goes through swing coaches like patrons go through pimento cheese sandwiches at Augusta National.

Even after carding a 3-under 69 on Friday, which included six birdies and three bogeys, Hovland seemed nowhere close to being satisfied. On a scale of 1 to 10, he described his swing as a 6 or 6 right now.

"Just been kind of finding the old movement that I used to have in my golf swing, and it's becoming more and more natural," Hovland said. "My big right misses are becoming less and less, so it's easier for me to trust what I'm already doing when the majority of the time when I hit a shot I look up and the ball is going in a pretty nice direction. Then my body and mind can kind of calm down and just try to execute."

Hovland tied for seventh in the 2023 Masters, then missed the cut in three of four majors last year (he was solo third at the 2024 PGA Championship).

Before capturing the Valspar Championship, he had missed three straight cuts at the Genesis Invitational, Arnold Palmer Invitational and the Players. He still seemed lost in golf's wilderness.

He's obviously in a much better place now heading into the weekend.

"It's crazy," Hovland said. "You know, sometimes it doesn't quite feel right, but you're just able to match up the face and make the ball somehow start where you're looking, even though it didn't feel ideal, or it was different to what you used to do. But sometimes you get a nice week, and you can time it up nicely and you make a few putts, short side yourself, and instead of making bogey or double, you chip in and make a birdie. I mean, this game is silly."

Uggetti: It has to be Matt McCarty. No, not Denny McCarthy -- that's McCarty, no "h" in the name. The winner of the 2024 Black Desert Championship is a Korn Ferry alum who won three times in one season to earn his PGA Tour card. After winning in Utah last October, he earned his way into this year's Masters and now finds himself tied for sixth heading into the third round.

McCarty is probably a name you haven't heard much of, but he is making a name for himself this week. Though the Official World Golf Rankings have him at No. 52, DataGolf says McCarty is more like the 112th-best player in the world. In his debut at Augusta National, McCarty birdied his first two holes Thursday and carded 1 under, an impressive round for a first-timer.

His encore was even better. McCarty started Friday with a double bogey and a bogey but then proceeded to shoot 8-under over his next 15 holes, including four straight birdies. He finished at 5 under, just three shots behind the leader.

"I don't know, just kind of stuck with the game plan. I didn't let myself get too rattled," McCarty said. "Just stayed focused and didn't think about what happened earlier and kind of moved on, and it was good."

McCarty said that he knew he was hitting the ball well enough for a good score, but that his putter went cold Thursday. Once it heated up, there was no stopping him. He gained nearly four strokes on the field with his putting alone, according to DataGolf. More importantly, McCarty leads the entire field in strokes gained: approach this week.

"Obviously, this golf course is very difficult if you get out of position, but if you're hitting good shots and giving yourself some good looks, you can make some birdies out here," he said. "So it was fun."

With so many top names around him, odds are McCarty will slip down the leaderboard come the weekend. But between a hot putter and his elite approach game, that's a recipe that spells staying power.

DENVER -- Nikola Jokic will average a triple-double for the season, making the Denver star the third player in NBA history to pull off such a feat.

It became statistically certain Friday night when Jokic got his fourth assist in the Nuggets' 117-109 win over the Memphis Grizzlies. That assist was his 700th of the season -- so, even if he didn't get another before the end of the regular season Sunday, which would be his 70th game, he was assured of averaging no worse than 10.0 assists.

But Jokic did get another, and he finished Friday night with 12 assists -- to go with 26 points and 16 rebounds -- for his 34th triple-double of the season.

The other players to average a triple-double for a full season: Russell Westbrook, Jokic's current Denver teammate, and Basketball Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson. Westbrook did it four times -- 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19 for Oklahoma City, as well as in 2020-21 for Washington -- and Robertson did it in the 1961-62 season for Cincinnati.

"It's nice. I didn't do that before," Jokic said postgame when asked about averaging a triple-double. "I don't know. I don't know what to say. It's good."

The assist that clinched it for Jokic came on a score by Christian Braun with less than a minute left in the first half. It was not originally credited; the box score was updated at halftime.

Jokic's 34th triple-double of the season is tied for the fourth most in a season in NBA history. Westbrook has the most with 42 in 2016-17. No other NBA player entered Friday with more than 10 this season.

"If he doesn't win the MVP, it's the greatest season of all time not to win the MVP," Nuggets interim coach David Adelman said of Jokic, a three-time winner of the award who is vying with Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the honor this season.

This will be the first time Jokic averages double digits in assists. His previous career best was in 2022-23, when he finished with 9.8 assists along with 24.5 points and 11.8 rebounds.

"When you have a guy like Jokic, who creates so much offense for his teammates, everyone's going to have really good looks if you don't do the right things," Minnesota coach Chris Finch said earlier this month.

Jokic is also assured of finishing this season averaging a career best in scoring and will likely end up with the second-best rebound average of his career, as well. He'll also set career highs this season in 3-pointers made and 3-point percentage.

Jokic needs 47 points in Denver's finale at Houston on Sunday to push his scoring average to 30.0. If that happens, it would be the third 30-point triple-double average in NBA history; Westbrook and Robertson both did that once.

Jokic has 164 regular-season triple-doubles for his career, second most in NBA history behind Westbrook's 203.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

LOS ANGELES -- After the Los Angeles Lakers closed out their last home game of the regular season by routing the Houston Rockets 140-109 on Friday night to clinch the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference, Austin Reaves joked that the team's campaign, at times, felt like five seasons in one.

All the ups and downs and twists and turns L.A. endured provided Reaves with clarity as he looked ahead to the postseason.

"I feel like we could win a championship, to be honest with you," Reaves said.

Luka Doncic, who scored 39 points on 13-of-19 shooting through three quarters, agreed with Reaves.

"That's our only goal," Doncic said. "I think we have the team to do it."

The Lakers made sure to enjoy their victory Friday night.

Coach JJ Redick had to change into a kelly green Philadelphia Eagles sweatshirt before his postgame news conference after being soaked in the locker room as players bombarded him with ice buckets to celebrate the team's 50th win.

"The whole locker room is literally water," Rui Hachimura said with a smile. "Straight water."

Hachimura said Redick told the team that after he was hired by L.A. in June, leaving behind a burgeoning career as an NBA broadcaster and podcaster, he set two goals for himself: to win 50 games and to secure the No. 3 seed (76 of the league's 78 all-time champions were the No. 3 seed or better).

On Friday, he accomplished both.

"Just incredibly proud of our team," Redick said after apologizing for the $17,000 in damages he estimated the Lakers caused to the locker room carpet. "It's an accomplishment to win 50 games in the regular season in any year. I think particularly in this year, in this Western Conference, it is. And it's a credit to our players. Each one at different points in time has contributed to winning. They've all participated in a winning culture."

Though Doncic has emerged as L.A.'s best player down the stretch, this Lakers team got to this point with LeBron James leading the way for the past seven years.

James, who exited the game after putting up 14 points and eight assists in 22 minutes before appearing to tweak his left hip/groin area, is "fine," according to Redick. The 22-year veteran left the arena without speaking to reporters but congratulated the team with a post on X after the game.

"Man I was going to say something but it's useless at this point in my career! Anyways more important CONGRATULATIONS JJ on a 50 win season in the WEST & Post Season nod!"

Though it is unclear what James was specifically referring to when he wrote that he wanted to "say something," former Detroit Pistons great Isiah Thomas had criticized him for going through his personal workout five hours before tipoff without a shirt on during NBA TV's coverage of the game.

"I just totally, 100 percent object to this," Thomas said when the networks cameras showed James' early pregame routine. "I just think the professionalism in our NBA league has diminished so much."

It is also unclear what team L.A. will face in the first round. The Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets all have a chance to secure the No. 6 seed in the West, and lock in the Lakers as an opponent, heading into the final two days of the regular season this weekend.

For now, the Lakers will travel to Portland to play the Trail Blazers in the finale Sunday -- and will surely hold out the bulk of their rotation players -- and then have a week off before hosting Game 1 of their first-round series next weekend.

"The good part of the season is coming, so you got to stay ready, got to stay locked in, but for sure, the rest is going to be great for me," Doncic said.

It will be the first time L.A. opens the playoffs with a home game since 2010-11, Phil Jackson's last season as coach. (The Lakers were the No. 1 seed in 2019-20, but the postseason was played in the NBA bubble in Orlando.)

And they'll have the No. 1 all-time playoff total points scorer in James and the No. 2 player in playoff scoring average in Doncic.

"It's not just me and LeBron," Doncic said. "We have a great team around us; everybody helps us in so many ways. So, if we want to win the championship it's going to take all of us."

BOSTON -- Payton Pritchard scored 22 points, Sam Hauser had 20 and the Boston Celtics beat the Charlotte Hornets 130-94 on Friday night for their 60th victory of the season.

Boston reached 60 wins for an NBA-best 15th time in franchise history and the first in back-to-back seasons since 2007-08 and 2008-09. Seven of their previous 14 60-win seasons ended with an NBA championship.

"Another incredible season," said Jayson Tatum, who had 16 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists. "You know, 60-plus-win team. Obviously the goal is to compete for championships, but I think enjoying the process along the way and cherishing those small wins, per se, and acknowledging that we had another incredible regular season, you know, something to be proud of, for sure. But now, just kind of shifting gears and getting our minds and our bodies ready for what's to come."

Derrick White added 19 points, and Al Horford had 13 points with 11 rebounds for the Celtics (60-21), who will play the winner of the Orlando Magic-Atlanta Hawks play-in tournament game in the first round of the playoffs.

Boston coach Joe Mazzulla rested his starters in the final quarter.

Celtics star Jaylen Brown was out with a sore right knee that has hampered him the past month, making him ineligible for postseason awards because he didn't reach the league's threshold for games played.

Seth Curry led the Hornets with 17 points and hit his 82nd 3-pointer, which qualifies him for the NBA's percentage lead. He went 5-of-7 on 3s and is at 45.6%.

Sacramento's Zach LaVine entered the night, leading at 44.6%.

Boston, which set the league record for 3s in a season this month, hit seven in the third, pushing a one-point halftime edge to 91-75 entering the fourth.

The Celtics were coming off a 20-point loss in Orlando on Wednesday when they sat their top six players.

Boston and Charlotte will meet again Sunday in both teams' regular-season finale.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

NEW YORK -- Yankees manager Aaron Boone, after speaking with bench coach Brad Ausmus, didn't mince words about what they had just seen New York and the San Francisco Giants endure.

"That's probably the worst conditions we've ever experienced, and we've been doing this for a long time," Boone said.

On a cold night when play started after a 26-minute delay, umpires suspended the game with the bases loaded in the top of the sixth inning, then called it after the minimum 30-minute wait. San Francisco had burst to a 5-0 first-inning lead and went on to a 9-1 victory.

It was 44 degrees at game time and windy, and the rain was steady throughout.

Boone had discussed the conditions with umpire crew chief Lance Barksdale and grew concerned as rookie Yoendrys Gómez had trouble gripping the ball in the sixth, when he walked four batters. Gómez's fastball averaged 90.1 mph, down 3 mph from his season average.

"Lance, obviously, has been around a long time; myself, I was like: 'It's pretty rough right here,'" Boone said. "My concern was when the velo really dropped off, and then it starts turning into a completely different game, and that's what I want to avoid."

Boone said player safety was on his mind throughout the game. Yankees catcher Austin Wells said pitcher control was impacted by the conditions, causing some up-and-in pitches.

"That's not fun. Definitely not something you want to see," Wells said.

Gómez didn't blame the conditions for his rough inning but admitted he had some difficulty.

"If it's raining a lot there comes a point where it's probably not the best to play the game," he said through an interpreter.

NEW YORK -- Yankees pitcher Marcus Stroman went to a hospital for tests on his left knee after he gave up five runs before getting chased in the first inning of a 9-1 loss to the San Francisco Giants on a cold and rainy Friday night.

New York manager Aaron Boone had just about finished his postgame news conference when he revealed Stroman was not in the clubhouse to speak with reporters.

"He came out. His knee was bothering him, so he went to get some tests done on his knee, so we'll see what we have from there," Boone said. "He said his left knee was bugging him, so he got some X-rays here, and I think he went to the hospital to get some more testing, and so we'll see what we have tomorrow."

Jung Hoo Lee hit a three-run homer and LaMonte Wade Jr. a two-run double in the first inning as the Giants won for the ninth time in 11 games. The game was called in the top of the sixth inning after weather conditions deteriorated.

New York has lost four of five following a 6-2 start and its rotation has a 5.46 ERA, worst among the 30 teams. Max Fried has a 1.56 ERA, but Carlos Rodón is at 5.19, Will Warren at 6.00, Carlos Carrasco at 7.71 and Stroman at 11.57.

"We got to do better," Boone said. "Obviously, we're coming off a great start with Max. But we've struggled to this point. ... It's 13 games in, but we've got night in and night out to pitch a little bit better to put us in a good situation."

Stroman lasted nine batters, throwing 46 pitches and getting two outs while allowing four hits and three walks.

Clarke Schmidt is slated to rejoin the Yankees on Tuesday or Wednesday after recovering from right rotator cuff tendinitis that has sidelined him since spring training. Boone wouldn't address who would be dropped from the rotation.

Stroman's ERA would be the highest in the major leagues if he had enough innings to qualify.

"He's dotting off the plate," Boone said, "and then when he came into the zone he got hurt."

A right-hander who turns 34 on May 1, Stroman (0-1) is in the second season of a two-year contract guaranteeing $37 million. His deal includes a $16 million conditional player option for 2026 that could be exercised if he pitches in at least 140 innings this year.

He skipped the Yankees' first two spring training workouts at a time when he didn't have a projected rotation role behind Gerrit Cole, Fried, Rodón, Luis Gil and Schmidt. He arrived on Valentine's Day, eight days ahead of the mandatory reporting date.

"I won't pitch in the bullpen. I'm a starter," Stroman said, repeating "I'm a starter" seven times in a 13-second span. Injuries to Cole, Gil and Schmidt created an opportunity.

A two-time All-Star, Stroman hasn't pitched through the fifth inning this season and has a 2.04 WHIP. Batters are hitting .467 (7-for-15) against him in the first inning with four walks.

"The movement qualities are there. Again, it's less margin for error and there's probably some adjustments we can all make," Boone said. "The stuff's not much different than the first half of last season to the second half to now, so just we got to execute a little better."

LOS ANGELES -- An MRI revealed Justin Steele is "dealing with the same injury" as last year, when a bout with tendinitis briefly shut him down during the stretch run, Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said.

Steele, however, will seek a second opinion on his injured left elbow.

"He's going to get some more opinions on it," Counsell said before Friday's series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers. "We're kind of dealing with the same thing he was last year, and for that reason, Justin wants to make sure, and we want to make sure, that we get the right information moving forward. So he's going to get another opinion and then go from there."

Steele pitched seven scoreless innings at home against the Texas Rangers on Monday but came out of that start with his left elbow feeling abnormally tight, a condition he attributed partly to the cold weather. Two days later, with the issue persisting, the Cubs placed him on the 15-day injured list for what they hoped would be a minimum stint. At this point, though, his timetable is uncertain.

Steele, who pitched to a 3.10 ERA in 78 starts from 2022 to 2024, missed the first two weeks of September last season with what was described by the team as tendinitis. His recent flare-up clearly has the Cubs worried.

Asked if Steele could be headed for Tommy John surgery, a procedure he underwent in 2017, Counsell said: "There's no decisions right now. Justin wants to get all the information. He wants to get another opinion. So until we do that, I think we got to wait for that and let him use all the information to decide what's next."