When right-hander Jameson Taillon went on the injured list June 8 with a strained left hamstring, he was leading the major leagues in home runs allowed with 20.
Thanks to being away for six weeks, Taillon isn’t leading the majors anymore. But considering the first inning of his first start back Monday against the Tigers, he could be again soon.
Taillon allowed a three-run homer to Riley Greene and a solo shot to Dillon Dingler — among several hard-hit balls — to put the Cubs in an early hole.
The Athletics’ Jeffrey Springs entered the day having allowed a major-league-high 26 homers. At this rate, he could be surpassed soon.
Before the game, Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that Taillon’s execution had to be better. Clearly, that wasn’t the case in the first.
“When we talk about execution for a guy like Taillon, it’s, I can put a ball on the outside edge, or I can throw a ball [outside the zone], based on the aggressiveness of the hitter,” Counsell said. “And that matters for a guy like Taillon. That’s what these guys have the ability to do.
“And there’s a difference in that for the hitter. That’s what Jamo needs to do. The changeup has to be competitive; no free pitches. The hitter has to be responsible for all four balls or all three strikes. The locked-in mechanics allow you to do that.”
After the second homer, Taillon settled in, retiring 11 of the next 12 batters, five on strikeouts. But his tendency to give up the long ball in bunches remains an issue.
Maton goes back on IL
In addition to activating Taillon from the 15-day injured list, the Cubs added right-handed Aaron Civale to the 26-man roster, designated left-hander Drew Pomeranz for assignment and put righty Phil Maton on the injured list with tendinitis in his right knee.
Maton pitched one inning Sunday against the Twins, allowing one run, two hits and a walk, raising his ERA to 6.18. After signing a two-year, $14.5 million contract to be a key late-inning reliever, Maton is on the IL for the third time this season with the injury.
“We were all optimistic [about] some rest with the All-Star break, and he thought, we thought we were in a pretty good place,” Counsell said. “Symptoms again [Sunday]. Did an MRI, and the news is not great. We’re going to get some more opinions and see what that means. We’re looking at a little bit more extended absence.”
Pomeranz, 37, made six relief appearances, allowing five earned runs in 5 ⅔ innings.
“When Hoby [Milner] had the appendicitis, we had some runway for [Pomeranz],” Counsell said. “In the end, with a pretty clear [idea] that Hoby is going to be back and where we’re at and with our schedule of a lot of games the next 2 ½ weeks, it didn’t feel like Drew was going to be an answer long-term. And I thought the priority of the innings was pretty important right now.”
Counsell: Palencia’s best to come
Though right-hander Daniel Palencia is still several weeks from returning from a strained flexor, Counsell said he was confident that the closer would have time to recapture his old form.
“Daniel’s got a lot of runway to come back,” Counsell said. “I fully expect Daniel to be back pitching for us this year. I think he’s going to miss a length of time where we’re going to have to get him acclimated again. But I think he has plenty of time to get to the best version of himself this year. And I expect him to.
“He missed some time at the end of the season last year, and I thought we got a great version of Daniel.”
