Jameson Taillon’s Future with Chicago Cubs in Question after Tough Start

Jameson Taillon’s place in the Chicago Cubs’ rotation faces uncertainty following a challenging performance on Sunday. Playing at PNC Park, where he spent his early major league years, Taillon endured one of his toughest starts for the Cubs. He allowed seven runs, including three home runs with a grand slam, in an 8-7 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Despite the Cubs’ (59-46) efforts to overcome the six-run hole, it was insufficient.

The Cubs had briefly led 1-0 in the second inning, but by the end, they couldn’t recover. Taillon admitted postgame that his confidence level wasn’t where it should be, noting, “The results speak for themselves.” In his 76 innings this season, Taillon has allowed 25 home runs, one of the highest totals in MLB.

“I’m confident I can figure it out, but when you’re going out there and hurting the team, it’s obviously not a good place to be.” – Jameson Taillon

Questions now surround whether Taillon will maintain his position in the rotation. His next start, if on regular rest, would be against the New York Yankees on Friday. Manager Craig Counsell mentioned that discussions are necessary about Taillon’s future starts, emphasizing the need for better performances as “we gave up seven, we had a great comeback. Bullpen did a great job. We played a great offense, but that’s a big gap we had to make up.”

Taillon’s struggles aren’t new, with home runs being an ongoing issue. During this season, he’s given up home runs in 12 of his 15 starts, with eight of those games seeing multiple home runs.

“It’s been a problem kind of all year,” Taillon admitted. He identified a pattern where pitches left over the plate to lefties create problems. He suggested he could benefit from pitching more aggressively inside.

In the last year of his four-year, $68 million contract, Taillon’s time in the Cubs’ rotation could shorten without improvement. As the Aug. 3 trade deadline approaches, the Cubs might seek a strong starting pitcher as Taillon’s challenges continue. Ideally, an upgrade with potential postseason reliability is necessary due to current pitching depth issues.

Potential short-term adjustments might involve replacing Taillon with right-hander Javier Assad or using him in relief to rebuild confidence. Even if no upgrades occur by the trade deadline, right-hander Edward Cabrera’s return from a hamstring injury could push others out of the rotation.

Pitching coach Tommy Hottovy pinpointed Taillon’s inconsistent command as a primary issue. Bad counts force strikes, compounded by technologically-assisted batters’ growing ability to target specific zones. Taillon faced nine unfavorable counts among 19 Pirates batters.

“It’s just about executing for him, it’s always going to come down to that. He’s got a good mix. He’s got enough stuff. It’s just about being in the positive counts and being able to execute.” – Tommy Hottovy

Hottovy added that improving Taillon’s arm action could enhance consistency. Despite his current struggles, Taillon’s leadership and work ethic earn him respect among teammates. He had also delivered crucial playoff performances last year. However, the league prioritizes performance, and the Cubs might need to evaluate Taillon’s continued capability to contribute effectively.

Recognizing his current form, Taillon expressed awareness of the pressure, admitting, “I feel pressure to do better, for myself especially, but I’ve been around long enough to know that I’m hurting the team and have been for a little while now.” He is aware of the implications of his current performance level.