The Cubs announced to reporters, including Jordan Bastian of MLB.com, that right-hander Jameson Taillon has been placed on the 15-day injured list with a “mild to moderate” left groin strain. Taillon had been the scheduled starter for tonight’s game against the Dodgers but righty Javier Assad has been recalled and will take the ball instead.
Taillon, 31, joined the Cubs over the offseason on a four-year, $68MM deal. That came on the heels of a strong two-year run with the Yankees, where he made 61 starts over 2021 and 2022, tossing 321 2/3 innings. He posted a 4.08 ERA in that time along with a 21.9% strikeout rate, 5.7% walk rate and 37.1% ground ball rate. That solid stretch did much to undo an injury-prone label that previously surrounded Taillon. He underwent Tommy John surgery as a prospect in 2014 and underwent the procedure a second time in 2019. But in both instances, he returned and posted good results, leading to his current career ERA of 3.85 over 801 2/3 innings.
This groin strain has popped up seemingly out of nowhere as Taillon, as mentioned up top, was scheduled to start tonight’s game until this news broke. Just this past weekend, he tossed five scoreless innings against the same Dodgers club he was set to face tonight. It’s unclear if he felt the injury that night or perhaps during a bullpen session in between then and now.
Regardless of how or when it happened, the Cubs will now have to play without Taillon for however long he’s out, which will be at least two weeks with this IL placement. The rotation has been a strength for the club in the early going this year, as their collective 2.66 ERA ranks third among all major league clubs, helping them jump out to an 11-6 start. Marcus Stroman and Justin Steele have excellent ERA figures of 0.75 and 1.44, respectively, while Drew Smyly and Hayden Wesneski have decent marks of 4.70 and 4.15.
Those four will now be joined by Assad for the time being. He posted a strong 2.66 ERA in the minors last year between Double-A and Triple-A, helping him make his major league debut. Between last year and this year, he has a 4.07 ERA in 42 major league innings thus far. He’ll look to bring some of that minor league success to the bigs and keep the Chicago rotation in good shape, at least until one of Taillon or Kyle Hendricks is able to return.
Oh snap!
Mild to moderate doesn’t say much but doesn’t sound super serious. And just like that Assad will have another shot on the big league team, it didn’t take long so let’s see how he does.
Kind of wish Ross didn’t burn Thompson for two yesterday.
Jameson Taillon has a history of injuries and this might be why the Yankees didn’t offer him a contract. Get better quickly!
That’s why they signed Carlos rodon…
Lol. Let’s replace an injury prone player with another highly injury prone player.
(rimshot followed by laughter)
As a longtime Pirate fan I was happy to see the Cubs spend that money. Extremely nice man who has suffered through a lot of injuries, but the most unathletic professional player I’ve ever seen.
Some day we hope to welcome the Pirates back to the majors
Hilarious, coming from the fan whose team has won WS in 106 years.
Check the standings.
What’s more hilarious is not being able to spell one properly.
I was alive the last time the Cubs won a World Series, however the same thing cannot be said about the last time the Pirates.
Drasco- Maybe corn forgot to put “one” in just like you forgot to put “won” in after your next post.
Extremely nice man. How sweet.
Retroactive?
15 days for a groin strain? I hurt sometimes too but wow. These baseball players could never make it in the real world. Take that however you want but it’s the truth.
I’m guessing you can still yell at people to get off your lawn with a strained groin.
That’s extremely funny. You’re a funny guy.
So it would be better to play through the injury, aggravate it, and be out for an even longer period of time because this would make him seem more “real world”?
You’re stupid.
I hope you didn’t hurt yourself coming up with that one.
Nope.
Lucky break for the Dodgers. Another day where they mostly or fully avoid the team’s scheduled starter.
Taillon has to put forth 90 to 100% effort with every pitch, imagine picking up your child with a pulled or strained groin, this would hurt immensely but you would still only be putting forth 7 to 15% effort depending on how big the child is or how lazy you are. Let the man rest and leave him alone we have him for 4 years. Go Cubs Go
Taillon is a good pitcher and a good guy but he is most definitely injury prone.
I’m convinced Michael Fulmer is a Dodger fan.
And Phillip Fulmer.
Who’s the hitting coach for the Cubs? He should be the coach of the year if Cody keeps this up