Injured Chicago Cubs Starter Makes Progress In Bullpen Session

The Chicago Cubs are hoping to get one of their starting pitchers back in the next couple of weeks as he continues to work back from a March injury.

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

The Chicago Cubs got a little good news on Sunday when it came to one of their starting pitchers — and it was not Justin Steele.

Jameson Taillon, the other Cubs starter on the injured list, threw a bullpen session at Globe Life Field before the Cubs’ series finale with the Texas Rangers, per MLB.com.

It’s the next step in the process to build Taillon up from a back strain that put him on the 15-day injured list to start the season.

Taillon wasn’t with the Cubs for Thursday’s Opening Day game, as he was preparing for a live batting practice session on Friday that saw him throw two innings of work.

After Sunday’s bullpen, the Cubs next want Taillon to return to the team’s facility in Mesa, Ariz., and throw another live BP on Tuesday. The Cubs want him to throw up to 50 pitches in that session.

If that goes well, then Taillon will join the Triple-A Iowa Cubs for a rehab start on April 7. After that, the Cubs will reassess where Taillon is in his recovery.

Taillon, who went 8-10 last season with a 4.84 ERA, suffered the injury while warming up for his first spring training start on March 9.

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. Steele injured the hamstring while trying to field a bunt in the fifth inning. An MRI revealed the injury and the Cubs placed him on the 15-day injured list on Saturday.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell indicated that the Cubs expect Steele to miss most of April. To take Steele’s place on the roster they called up Top 10 prospect Ben Brown from Triple-A Iowa, who made his MLB debut on Saturday in relief.