29 August 2023
Jameson Taillon’s first season in Chicago has largely not played out how he and the Cubs envisioned.
Lately he has pitched more like the version both sides hoped for when he inked a four-year, $68 million contract in the offseason, posting a 3.98 ERA and pitching into the sixth inning in eight of his last nine starts. Taillon knows the rotation is a big factor in what happens in the final month of the season as the Cubs try to get back to the postseason for the first time since 2020.
“I feel like it’s a cliché, but starting pitching sets the tone for everything,” Taillon told the Tribune over the weekend. “So if we want to make a push and want to go where we’re trying to go, I feel like it starts and ends with pitching in general, but starting pitching always sets the tone.
“For myself, I feel the ship has sailed as far as getting my numbers where I want them to be this year, and I’m not worried about it. All I’m worried about is my next X amount of starts and the team winning. That’s where we’re all at. When you’re in a race, nothing matters except winning that game so go out there and keep the team in it, compete, let the offense do their thing, let the defense do their thing and try not to put the team in a hole.”
Unfortunately for Taillon and the Cubs, the veteran right-hander immediately put them in catch-up mode Monday against the first-place Milwaukee Brewers. Christian Yelich sent the third pitch of the game, a 95 mph fastball down and in, to the center field bleachers after Taillon fell behind 2-0. It was the beginning of a four-run inning with Rowdy Tellez (sacrifice fly) and Mark Canha (two-run homer) contributing to Taillon’s woes.
The Cubs entered Monday tied for 15th in MLB with the Phillies and Giants for runs allowed in the first inning. Early home runs have been a bit of a problem, though, and they were tied for seventh-most in the opening frame with the Royals and A’s — before the Brewers went deep twice off Taillon in the first.
Although Taillon settled in, allowing one unearned run in the next five innings, the offense couldn’t get much going against former Cub Wade Miley in a 6-2 loss.
Two of the Cubs’ four hits off Miley were two-out home runs by Ian Happ and Patrick Wisdom in the first and fifth innings. Aside from the solo homers, the Cubs (69-62) did not have a runner advance to second base, only producing four singles and a walk.
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