The Cubs have dealt with plenty of bad news on the pitching front this season, but there have been some positive developments of late. That includes having veteran righty Jameson Taillon potentially poised to rejoin the rotation in the near future.
Taillon has been on the 15-day injured list since injuring his left hamstring in an outing against the Giants on June 7, but the right-hander started for Triple-A Iowa on Saturday in his latest rehab appearance.
Here’s everything you need to know:
How did Taillon perform?
Taillon allowed just one hit in 4 2/3 scoreless innings, walking one and striking out three. He threw 34 of his 53 pitches for strikes.
The right-hander averaged 90.8 mph on his four-seam fastball, 1 mph below his 91.8 mph average in MLB this season. His fastest pitch on Saturday was clocked at 91.9 mph. Taillon got seven whiffs on 24 swings (29.2% whiff rate).
What’s next?
Taillon should be positioned to rejoin the Cubs’ rotation shortly after the All-Star break, following this second Minor League rehab outing. Cubs manager Craig Counsell is in Cincinnati with the team and will likely have more information Sunday, when the team plays its final game of the first half.
The big righty logged 45 pitches in 3 1/3 innings for High-A South Bend in his previous rehab appearance on Sunday last weekend. After that outing, Counsell said Taillon could have returned for an abbreviated start for the Cubs prior to the All-Star break if a need had come up unexpectedly.
Without such a need on short notice, the Cubs were able to let Taillon get one more rehab game in before potentially being activated. By pitching for Iowa on Saturday, Taillon could return during the three-game set with the Twins, beginning Friday at Wrigley Field or during the following set with the Tigers (July 20-22) if Chicago wanted to give him additional rest.
What else?
Beyond Taillon, the Cubs have Edward Cabrera (15-day IL, left hamstring/adductor) making progress in his return, though he is still likely a few weeks away. Down on the farm, top pitching prospect Jaxon Wiggins (Pipeline’s No. 3 Cubs prospect and No. 90 on the Top 100 list) was activated from the Minor League IL and started for Iowa on Friday, following a comeback from a right elbow issue.
In all, the Cubs have cycled through 12 different starting pitchers this season -- that includes a handful of openers -- due to injuries.
Cade Horton (60-day IL, right elbow surgery) is out for the year, while Justin Steele (60-day IL, left elbow) is back on a throwing program with the goal of getting on a mound around the first week of August. Ben Brown (15-day IL, stress reaction in his neck) has resumed plyo ball work, per Counsell. If Steele or Brown return this season, it would likely be in a relief role.