Cubs starter Jameson Taillon remembers coming to Wrigley Field as a visitor as a starter on the small-market Pirates to play those star-studded Cubs teams.
Those Cubs teams had the sluggers to turn close games into blowouts and the pitching to keep opposing offenses at bay. Coming to Wrigley was anything but friendly for the Pirates or most National League Central teams.
“We were the little guys coming in here and they were playing bully ball against us a little bit,” said Taillon, who threw six scoreless innings with four strikeouts and two walks in Friday’s 3-1 win over the Nationals. “It was scary to come to Wrigley and play. You didn’t want to catch them on a day where they’re swinging it hot.
“Going forward, that should be our expectation. Teams shouldn’t want to come in here and play the Cubs.”
After Friday’s win, the Cubs (79-75) sit 9 ½ games back of the Brewers in the division. Despite the Brewers losing starters Corbin Burnes to trade and Brandon Woodruff to injury — and star outfielder Christian Yelich to a back injury that sidelined him for the season — the Brewers continued to find ways to win games.
That ability to win moments within games is what separates the Cubs from the Brewers. Entering Friday’s game, the Cubs have the fifth-most blown saves in the majors while the Brewers have the sixth-fewest. The Cubs are also 22-28 in one-run games.
Taillon said he liked a quote from second baseman Nico Hoerner that referenced how the Cubs didn’t “win winning moments,” something the Brewers excel at.
“It’s like they [Brewers] seem to sometimes have the edge on those moments over us right now, and it’s on us to flip the script,” Taillon said. “It’s a team effort, it’s an organizational effort, but I’m happy [manager Craig Counsell] on our side, because I have full faith in him, in the front office and the coaches and us as players finding a way to identify that and get better.
“We do have an excellent group of guys, and this organization’s got a lot of very bright people, so I don’t expect this year to be the norm going forward.”
The excellent play of Taillon — and the starting rotation— is one way for the team to inch toward that 90-win mark next season.
Since joining the Cubs in 2023, Taillon has performed for the team. Taillon has been consistent in both his preparation and performance. He has the second-most wins on the team (11), pitched the second-most innings (158 ⅓) and has a 3.41 ERA.
His reliability and consistency should be lauded. Those qualities are valuable in an era where pitchers are pitching fewer innings.
“I thought it was great,” pinch hitter Mike Tauchman said of Taillon’s outing. “He’s been a really consistent force for us … being able to take the ball on every fifth day, pitching deep in the games, giving us a chance to win.”
Taillon’s time with the 2021 and ’22 Yankees were the only times he’s been a part of teams that won at least 90 games.. Now that he’s a part of a big-market organization, he wants to reestablish that standard with the Cubs.
“I know a lot of players on other teams love coming to Wrigley, and I don’t want that,” Taillon said. “I want people to see Wrigley on their schedule and be like, ‘Shoot, I don’t want a part of that.’ We’re the Chicago Cubs. We should strive to be a 90-win at least organization.”