Jameson Taillon's spring has been anything but smooth sailing. In his initial two Cactus League starts before joining Team Canada for the World Baseball Classic, Taillon struggled mightily, giving up 13 earned runs on 13 hits over six innings, including six home runs. Ouch.
While his World Baseball Classic performance offered a glimmer of hope, his return to the Cubs brought those concerns roaring back. Facing the Los Angeles Dodgers, Taillon was tagged for 10 earned runs on eight hits in just 3 1/3 innings.
That's a spring ERA of 22.18 over four starts-not exactly what the Cubs were hoping for. With his velocity dipping, it's fair to wonder if there’s more at play for the 34-year-old right-hander.
Thankfully, the Cubs have some depth in their rotation. Manager Craig Counsell can lean on a staff that includes Cade Horton, Matthew Boyd, Shota Imanaga, and Edward Cabrera. And let's not forget Colin Rea, Javier Assad, and Ben Brown, who's been turning heads this spring with his improved pitching arsenal.
Last spring, Taillon's performance wasn't stellar either, posting a 6.75 ERA in three starts. But this year's struggles are unprecedented for him in the big leagues.
The Cubs are likely scrutinizing his mechanics and health closely. Whether this rough patch is just a spring training anomaly remains to be seen, but it’s definitely something to keep an eye on as the season progresses.