Chicago Cubs Starter Begins Injury Rehab With Tennessee Smokies

The Chicago Cubs could use an experienced starter like Jameson Taillon, who is starting an injury rehab assignment in the minor leagues.

Sep 30, 2023; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jameson Taillon (50) delivers / Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports

Chicago Cubs pitcher Jameson Taillon was at Double-A Tennessee for his first injury rehab start on Sunday and it turned into a rough outing.

Taillon was making his first appearance since pitching live batting practice in Mesa, Ariz., a few days ago, which was meant to simulate two innings of work.

Taillon’s start against the Rocket City Trash Pandas went just a little bit longer — 2.2 innings — but he threw 52 pitches, 35 of which were strikes.

Taillon allowed six hits, four runs (three earned) and one walk while he struck out four. He left the game with a 10.13 ERA.

Taillon allowed a Nelson Rada single to start the game and he eventually scored after two stolen bases and an RBI single by Sam Brown. Taillon wasn’t able to avoid further damage, as Tucker Flint singled and Eric Wagaman doubled to score Brown and Flint to give Rocket City a 3-0 lead.

Taillon nearly retired the side in the second, but Kyren Paris struck out and advanced to first after the ball got past Pablo Aliendo. Paris scored on a single by Cole Fontenelle, giving Rocket City a 4-2 lead.

Taillon retired the first two hitters he faced in the third before he was removed from the game.

The Cubs put Taillon on the 15-day injured list with a back strain. He suffered that injury while warming up for his spring training start on March 9.

Last season he went 8-10 with a 4.84 ERA as a member of the Cubs rotation.

The injury to Justin Steele has put his recovery on the front-burner. The Cubs lost Steele for what appears to be about a month after he sustained a Grade 1 left hamstring strain in their opening-day loss to the Rangers. Cubs manager Craig Counsell indicated that the Cubs expect Steele to miss most of April.

When the Cubs put Steele on the injured list they brought Top 30 prospect Ben Brown up from Triple-A Iowa and he’s pitched two games in relief but has not started.