Though the Chicago Cubs (72-54) have performed .500 baseball for the reason that MLB All-Star break, their beginning pitching rotation stays a power. Matthew Boyd and Shota Imanaga provide very important stability on the entrance finish and rookie Cade Horton seemed terrific for the final month earlier than contracting a blister in Monday’s abbreviated outing versus the Milwaukee Brewers. Even so, this ballclub wanted a change amid its ongoing struggles. Enter Jameson Taillon.
After holding off a Brewers comeback and pulling out a 6-4 win within the first sport of a Tuesday doubleheader, the returning right-hander helped be sure that the Cubs would come away with an enormous momentum-boost. He allowed just one run on 5 hits and struck out 4 batters in six innings, out-dueling the often terrific Brandon Woodruff en path to a 4-1 Chicago victory.
Contemplating he missed greater than a month and a half with a calf pressure, Taillon’s efficiency was particularly excellent. He maintained a selfless outlook following his massive evening in Wrigley Subject, exhibiting maybe an unfair quantity of modesty.
“My job is to return in and never mess that up, I assume,” Taillon joked after studying that the Cubs’ beginning rotation now has an MLB-best 3.10 ERA for the reason that break, through MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian. “They’ve been superior.”
Taillon lowers his personal ERA to 4.26, hoping to begin contemporary following a brutal June during which he surrendered 20 runs in 32 1/3 innings pitched. He definitely seemed like a brand new man on Tuesday evening. The 33-year-old is extra essential than he’s giving himself credit score for, although.
With Horton battling a blister challenge and probably dealing with an innings restrict down the highway, Cubs supervisor Craig Counsell will want at the very least yet another constant starter he can ship to the mound behind Boyd and Imanaga. Colin Rea is a robust candidate for that position after permitting simply 4 runs throughout his final three outings, however both means, Taillon must be invaluable.
Even when All-Stars like Kyle Tucker and Pete Crow-Armstrong can regain their mojo within the batter’s field, Chicago will want its pitching employees to offer clutch innings. Maybe Jameson Taillon can remind followers why the group signed him to a four-year, $68 million contract in December of 2022.