Is Chicago Cubs Starter Taillon Poised for Turnaround?

Jameson's Taillon's most recent start comes as the Chicago Cubs have worked with him on getting back to basics.

Ray Acevedo-USA TODAY Sports

Jameson Taillon likely breathed a sigh of relief after the Chicago Cubs’ 2-1 win over the San Diego Padres on Friday.

A win is a win, of course. But it’s a bigger deal for Taillon (1-3), who won his first decision in his ninth start of the season.

The right-hander has been upside-down all season. While he’s only won double-digit games twice (14 in 2018 and in 2022), his ERA has always been solid, ranging from a low of 3.20 in 2018 with Pittsburgh to a high of 4.44 in 2017 with the Pirates.

It’s part of the reason the Cubs signed Taillon to a four-year free-agent deal in the offseason, which included $68 million. Another reason? He’s had success in big markets. He went 14-5 with the New York Yankees last season.

After Friday’s win, Taillon’s ERA was 7.05. That’s nearly three points higher than any previous season.

It was just the second time this season he’s allowed one run or fewer in a start. He gave up no runs in five innings against the Dodgers on April 15. Friday’s game against the Padres he went 5.2 innings, his longest start of the season.

So is something changing? Cubs pitching coach Tommy Hottovy believes so, and that could yield success for Taillon more often.

From The Athletic:

“What we talked about the last couple starts was just getting back to what we feel like his strengths are,” Hottovy said. “That’s the good four-seam fastball and the curveball off of that. When that is right, it makes all the other pitches play up. You saw, metrically, some good sliders and cutters that had good numbers, but he missed in the zone with them. And he got bad swings with them. When you’re missing in the zone and you’re getting bad swings, that’s usually a good indication that the other stuff you’re doing is playing up.”

The Cubs are under-.500 but are well within striking distance of the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers.

If the Cubs are going to make a run at the Brewers and the postseason, they’ll need more game like Friday’s from Taillon.

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