CHICAGO -- Jameson Taillon was set to make his Sunday start as the Pirates closed out the first half of the season against the Cubs with a 14-3 win, but he was announced as a late scratch about 25 minutes prior to first pitch due to flu-like symptoms.
"He was treated and assessed by our medical department this morning. He rebounded quite nicely," said Pirates head athletic trainer Todd Tomczyk after the game. "He experienced pretty intense flu-like symptoms again while warming up for the game."
Taillon, who entered the day with a career-best 15 1/3-innings scoreless streak, threw five shutout frames in his last start against the Phillies on Tuesday. He underwent further treatment after the game and the Pirates said more updates should be forthcoming.
Tomczyk did note, however, that the doctors in Chicago spoke with the physicians in Pittsburgh and determined the symptoms were unrelated to Taillon's early stint on the disabled list this season, following surgery due to testicular cancer.
"I think we all in this room can attest to the warrior mentality that Jameson has. The competitor that he is," Tomczyk said. "He's the last person that doesn't want to pitch."
Chad Kuhl, who was informed earlier in the day he might be on call to start, took over for Taillon, pitching three innings and giving up one run in the win.
"They told me probably at 9, 9:30, somewhere whenever I got back to the ballpark that he had a rough night," Kuhl said. "I lifted yesterday, so I was a little sore, but I mean, nothing out of the ordinary."
Kuhl, who is 3-6 with a 4.96 ERA this season, last started on Thursday, giving up three runs (two earned) over seven innings in a win in Philadelphia. He did note, however, he had at least a little experience throwing on short rest.
"There was one game in college where I finished a game [the day] after I started," he said. "Maybe just once in my life, yeah.
"It felt a little different than that."