Injured Chicago Cubs Starter Set to Join Team Next Week

The Chicago Cubs haven’t made a final decision on when Jameson Taillon will be activated, but it sounds like the decision is coming soon.

Sep 29, 2023; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Jameson Taillon (50) speaks to the / Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Cubs are flying injured pitcher Jameson Taillon out to Arizona to join them for their three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, which starts on Monday.

The decision was reported by the Chicago Tribune.

This comes after Taillon’s second rehab start with the Triple-A Iowa Cubs on Friday, during which he looked effective.

He threw 68 pitches in 3.2 innings, allowed three hits and one walk. He also struck out four.

This was his second rehab start. His first was with Double-A Tennessee last week as he faced the Rocket City Trash Pandas. He went 2.2 innings and threw 52 pitches. Taillon allowed six hits, four runs (three earned) and one walk while he struck out four.

The report didn’t indicate that Taillon would be activated right away, only that the Cubs would discuss “next steps.”

The Cubs could use him right now. They’ve been without top starter Justin Steels since he suffered a Grade 1 hamstring strain on Opening Day against the Texas Rangers. Steele threw a bullpen on Saturday and is making progress. There is no firm timetable for him to start a rehab assignment.  

Right after the diagnosis, manager Craig Counsell said the Cubs expected Steele to miss most of April. The Cubs are also missing Kyle Hendricks, who went on the 15-day injured list earlier this week.

The Cubs put Taillon on the 15-day injured list with a back strain. He suffered that injury while warming up for his spring training start on March 9. Last season he went 8-10 with a 4.84 ERA as a member of the Cubs rotation.