DENVER — Jameson Taillon’s hamstring injury is bad enough to paint another potentially worrisome picture for the Cubs on the starting-pitching front.
Already down righty Cade Horton for the season and still waiting on an end to the extended absence of lefty Justin Steele, the Cubs now expect to be without Taillon, the veteran right-hander, for the remainder of the first half.
Taillon made an early exit from Sunday’s loss to the Giants, limping off the field and down the dugout steps into the clubhouse. Though an injured-list trip was expected, the imaging Taillon underwent Monday revealed a left hamstring strain that manager Craig Counsell described as “moderate.” He’ll be out until after the All-Star break.
So what’s next?
It’s more of the same for these Cubs, who have dealt with one starting-pitching injury after another through the first three months of the campaign.
In addition to the aforementioned absences, lefty Matthew Boyd has only made five starts this season, out since early May as he’s recovered from knee surgery. Righty Edward Cabrera missed time with a blister, returning just Friday – and was scorched for eight runs against the Giants.
The Cubs have received a breakout effort from righty Ben Brown, who’s been the team’s best pitcher and their best All-Star choice to this point. But righty Colin Rea has not been quite as good in a fill-in role as he was last year, with righty Javier Assad and lefty Jordan Wicks making return trips to the minor leagues.
Despite all that, plus the dozen homers that lefty Shota Imanaga has allowed in his last four starts, making for a questionably deep group – and another summer of Jed Hoyer’s front office searching for starting pitching – there are a couple reasons for positivity.
Boyd will return this weekend in San Francisco, giving the Cubs their Opening Day starter back. And Assad’s 6 1/3 scoreless innings in relief of Taillon on Sunday has renewed fans’ optimism in his ability, with Counsell saying Tuesday that Assad is “always a candidate” to assume a starting role, if necessary.
“You don’t want to lose your guys,” Counsell said. “We have Matt on his way back, and he’s going to start in San Francisco. But it makes losing somebody else more daunting. That’s just where we’re at.
“Guys are going to have some opportunities for the next month or so before we get to the All-Star break because of it.”
Shaw returns
The Cubs brought utility man Matt Shaw back from the injured list ahead of Tuesday’s game, adding another bat to their bench.
Shaw has found limited playing time this season, starting just 12 of his last 31 games before hitting the IL.
But he’s expected to see action against left-handers, and he’s ready to step into whatever situational roles present themselves as the Cubs look to break out of their early-summer funk.
“Usually, if I look ahead and I see there’s a lefty, I kind of have a better idea that I’ll probably be playing that day. And then the rest of the time, it’s just staying ready,” Shaw said Tuesday. “Guys will need an off day here and there. But really, it’s staying ready for a pinch run, staying ready for a pinch hit, whatever that may look like.
“Obviously, I’m ready to help in any way I can. Whatever that looks like, whatever that manifests into — it could be some of those late-inning pinch-running situations — I look forward to those.”
