
Cubs’ Jameson Taillon Out With Calf Strain \ TezzBuzz \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Cubs pitcher Jameson Taillon has been sidelined with a right calf strain and could miss over a month. The injury adds pressure to a rotation already hit by other setbacks. Lefty Jordan Wicks has been recalled.
Quick Looks
- Cubs placed Jameson Taillon on IL with right calf strain.
- Manager Craig Counsell expects him to miss “more than a month.”
- Taillon injured himself running after a bullpen session.
- He has a 7-6 record with a 4.44 ERA this season.
- Jordan Wicks recalled from Triple-A Iowa to fill rotation gap.
- Justin Steele already out for season with elbow surgery.
- Shota Imanaga recently returned from a seven-week hamstring injury.
- Rotation injuries piling up as Cubs lead the NL Central.
Deep Look
The Chicago Cubs received troubling news heading into a pivotal stretch of the 2025 MLB season: starting pitcher Jameson Taillon has been placed on the injured list with a right calf strain that could sideline him for more than a month. Manager Craig Counsell confirmed the severity of the injury on Friday, revealing that the team would be without the veteran right-hander for a “pretty significant amount of time.”
The injury occurred under seemingly routine circumstances—Taillon felt the strain while running after a bullpen session on Thursday. Despite being scheduled to start on Saturday against the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals, he was pulled from the lineup and placed on the 15-day IL, retroactive to Tuesday. The move not only disrupts the Cubs’ rotation but also raises broader concerns about the team’s depth and durability as they cling to the top spot in the NL Central.
Taillon, now in his ninth major league season, has been a key piece in Chicago’s starting rotation. His season record of 7-6 with a 4.44 ERA reflects a year of ups and downs. He experienced a strong mid-season surge with five straight wins but stumbled recently, losing three consecutive games while posting a bloated 10.66 ERA in that stretch. Despite his recent struggles, Taillon’s presence brought stability and veteran leadership to a rotation in flux.
With his absence, the Cubs have been forced to recall left-hander Jordan Wicks from Triple-A Iowa. Wicks will step into the rotation and is expected to pitch against the Cardinals. The 24-year-old is considered a promising prospect, but manager Craig Counsell made it clear that success at the major league level will depend on execution. “He’s got to come up here and attack the strike zone and get himself in favorable counts … to be effective,” Counsell said.
This latest setback compounds what has already been a challenging season for Chicago’s pitching staff. The rotation, once seen as a strength, has been repeatedly tested by injuries. Most notably, All-Star lefty Justin Steele, who posted a 16-5 record in 2023, was sidelined after just four starts this year due to an elbow injury that required season-ending surgery. His loss removed one of the most reliable arms from the Cubs’ arsenal.
Shota Imanaga, the Japanese left-hander who began the season in excellent form, also missed a significant chunk of time. A hamstring strain kept him out for seven weeks before he returned recently, notching two wins since rejoining the rotation. While his comeback provides a boost, it also underscores the precarious nature of the Cubs’ starting depth.
Now, with Taillon sidelined and Steele done for the year, the burden on Imanaga, Wicks, and the rest of the rotation grows heavier. The team may also consider calling up additional prospects or accelerating trade deadline plans in search of rotation help. The Cubs’ status as NL Central leaders means that any prolonged dip in pitching performance could jeopardize their postseason aspirations.
Taillon’s injury arrives at a particularly sensitive time. With the All-Star break approaching, the Cubs are entering a crucial midseason stretch where momentum and health often dictate second-half success. The challenge lies not only in replacing Taillon’s innings but in maintaining the rhythm and chemistry of a rotation already rattled by changes.
Beyond on-field implications, Taillon’s injury has locker room reverberations. The 33-year-old has been viewed as a steadying influence—experienced, professional, and well-liked among teammates. Losing that presence, even temporarily, adds to the intangible pressures facing the club.
For Wicks, the opportunity is both daunting and golden. The Cubs’ 2021 first-round pick, he has shown flashes of brilliance in the minors but has yet to firmly establish himself in the big leagues. With the rotation thin, the team will be counting on him not just for innings, but for effectiveness against playoff-caliber opponents.
The situation also raises questions about the Cubs’ trade deadline posture. If Taillon’s recovery stretches into August, as some fear, President of Baseball Operations Jed Hoyer may be forced to aggressively pursue rotation reinforcements. With postseason contention at stake and the NL Central still tightly contested, standing pat could prove costly.
In the meantime, the Cubs must find a way to grind through. Their bullpen, already under strain, may be asked to shoulder more responsibility. Depth options like Javier Assad and Hayden Wesneski could see increased usage. But even those internal solutions come with question marks, especially as the innings load increases deep into the season.
Despite these challenges, the Cubs remain competitive thanks to consistent offense, improved defense, and a managerial approach under Craig Counsell that emphasizes flexibility and matchup-savvy decision-making. The team has shown resilience, adapting to setbacks while maintaining a winning record.
Still, Taillon’s injury is a reminder of how fragile that balance can be. Every successful team faces adversity, but depth and adaptability often determine who survives the grind and who fades down the stretch.
Cubs fans will now monitor Taillon’s rehab timeline closely, hoping his return can come sooner rather than later. In the meantime, all eyes are on Wicks and the reshuffled rotation. For Chicago, the next month may well define the arc of their 2025 season.
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