the July 31 trade deadline approaches<\/a> and starting pitching \u2014 the Cubs rank 22nd in the majors in that category with an ERA of 4.27 \u2014 continues to be a drag on what otherwise is a promising team picture.<\/p>\nNot surprisingly, most of the other first-place teams around the league put that Cubs ranking to shame. The Phillies rank at the top in starting pitching. The Tigers are third, the Yankees sixth and the Astros eighth. Only the Dodgers are struggling \u2014 their rarified version of struggling, anyway \u2014 at 19th, but they\u2019re cruising with a luxurious cushion in the standings. Even the White Sox, who rank 21st in starting pitcher ERA, have an edge on the Cubs, and if that fact doesn\u2019t send a chill down North Siders\u2019 spines, what would?<\/p>\n
But back to Taillon. You know what would be just as helpful to the Cubs as trading for a quality starter? If their highest-paid pitcher at $18 million a year got himself into top gear and stayed there the rest of the season.<\/p>\n
Being as good as he was last year would get the job done. Taillon went 12-8 with a 3.27 ERA, his strongest season since 2018 and as productive as any Cubs starter was outside of Shota Imanaga.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like I went on a pretty good run last year and had a really good year,\u201d he said. \u201cShota and [Justin] Steele had big years for us, and what I did probably kind of went under the radar, which is fine. I\u2019m OK working in the shadows. I\u2019m very happy to be that guy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shadows or not, this Cubs team \u2014 without Steele for the year, and uncertain about how many total innings Matthew Boyd and Cade Horton will be able to throw \u2014 needs Taillon to channel his inner former No. 2 overall draft pick (2010) and deliver the goods.<\/p>\n
Taillon had a 2.76 ERA over five April starts, a 3.68 ERA over five May starts and a 5.57 ERA over six June starts. Raise your hand if you can spot a trend. He has an ugly road ERA of 5.40, has given up 22 homers \u2014 second-most in baseball, and more than he gave up all last year \u2014 has taken too much damage from right-handed hitters and is in a stretch of back-to-back-to-back losses. Halfway through the season, only six qualifying National League starters have higher ERAs than Taillon\u2019s 4.44.<\/p>\n
Is this a guy the Cubs can count on?<\/p>\n
Taillon isn\u2019t dismayed by his last three starts, which have been far from his best.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t want to overreact,\u201d he said. \u201cJust like if a hitter has a slump of 10 games, it doesn\u2019t mean you go replace [Pete Crow-Armstrong] or whatever.\u201d<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a bigger question to be asked, given this is a first-place team with 90-plus wins in its sights: Is Taillon a starting pitcher the Cubs would be confident sending into battle in October?<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of great players who don\u2019t have success in the playoffs, and then there are some players who rise to the occasion in the playoffs,\u201d he said. \u201cI think with my discipline, my work ethic, the shape I\u2019m in, I do think I can pitch well in October. I think I have what it takes to do well in October.\u201d<\/p>\n
Not many pitchers know better than Taillon what it\u2019s like to miss out. He has had not one, but two Tommy John surgeries. He had what might have been a comeback season from the first of those setbacks derailed by the need for hernia surgery.<\/p>\n
And in 2022, in his only taste of postseason pitching, he started only one of the Yankees\u2019 nine games as their No. 4 option.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was just excited to be on the roster,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The Cubs need Taillon to wear a bigger hat than that. He says he\u2019s built for it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI might not be the guy out there punching out 15 and pounding my chest, but I feel like I\u2019m dependable and reliable,\u201d he said. \u201cI would love to have a 2.00 ERA and get Cy Young votes and be an All-Star, but I\u2019m also just proud to take the ball and be consistent.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n