The Chicago Cubs may be sitting on top of the NL Central with a four-game lead, but things just got tougher for their pitching staff. Already hit hard by injuries, the Cubs now have one more arm on the shelf, and it could shake up their season plans.
Manager Craig Counsell confirmed that Jameson Taillon suffered a calf strain during a post-bullpen workout on Thursday. He was doing some running after his throwing session when he felt discomfort. According to Counsell, Taillon will “miss a pretty significant amount of time,” and the team has officially placed him on the injured list. To fill the gap, they’ve called up Jordan Wicks from Triple-A.
This is a big blow to an already shaky Cubs rotation. Justin Steele is out after elbow surgery, and the Cubs’ starters have a combined 4.22 ERA, one of the worst in the league. Taillon, who had a 4.44 ERA over 17 starts this season, wasn’t dominating, but he was providing valuable innings.
Wicks brings some experience but not a ton of confidence; he’s made just two appearances this year with the Cubs and had a 5.48 ERA last season in 10 starts. In Triple-A, he’s posted a 4.06 ERA this year. That’s serviceable, but hardly the kind of reinforcement the Cubs need during a playoff push.
This injury comes at a critical time. The Cubs were already looking for a starting pitcher before the July 31 trade deadline, but this may force them to be even more aggressive. The team’s once-promising lead in the NL Central has been shrinking, especially with the Milwaukee Brewers closing in.
While Shota Imanaga has been a bright spot in the rotation, he has even missed time this year. And with rumours that this could be the Cubs’ only season with Kyle Tucker, there’s added pressure to go all-in now.
In short, the Cubs are still leading the pack, but their rotation is wearing thin, and time is ticking. Expect front-office phones to stay busy in the weeks ahead.
