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WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. \u2013 Cubs right-hander Jameson Taillon<\/b> knows how it sounded when he said he was working on a changeup in spring training.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sure you guys hear pitchers come into spring and always say, \u2018I\u2019m working on a changeup.\u2019\u201d he said after the Cubs\u2019 10-2 win Wednesday against the A\u2019s. \u201cBut this year was the first year in a while where I actually felt like I was leaving spring training with a changeup that could be real.\u201d<\/p>\n
On Taillon\u2019s way to allowing just two runs in six innings, he threw that pitch seven times to left-handed batters, generating four whiffs.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I sync up and throw the changeup right, it\u2019s a pitch that actually is a real weapon,\u201d Taillon said. \u201cAnd now it\u2019s just about the consistency of it and figuring out who to throw it to, when to throw it. But normally I just throw the changeup in my back pocket and don\u2019t really bring it out.\u201d<\/p>\n
In his first start, Taillon was having issues landing his curveball against lefties, so they could expect either a fastball or cutter, pitches with higher velocity. The changeup is another offspeed pitch he can mix in with the curve like he did Wednesday, or use as a Plan B when he doesn\u2019t have a good feel for the curve.<\/p>\n
\u201cHuge for lefties,\u201d Taillon said. \u201cIt\u2019s no secret other teams stack lineups with lefties against me. And now it\u2019s on me to find a way to punch back and show that I can get lefties out and limit slug and all of that. So the changeup for me could be a really good pitch, pitching in more to lefties instead of just everything away could be really big. Some days I\u2019m going to lay in my cutter really well, and that\u2019s going to be the featured pitch. It\u2019s just having the ability to not be so predictable.\u201d<\/p>\n
After a rough first start, when Taillon gave up six runs to the Diamondbacks in 4 \u2153 innings, he worked with the Cubs\u2019 pitching coaches to re-sync his delivery. The 19 whiffs he generated Wednesday, according to Statcast, were promising.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not a guy who goes out there and chases whiffs,\u201d Taillon said. \u201cBut when I\u2019m getting early-count swing-and-miss or foul balls on my fastball early counts, that\u2019s a good sign. Because last start, I threw some fastballs in decent areas that got hit really hard. So, that\u2019s telling me I\u2019m losing some deception, my fastball metrics aren\u2019t where they need to be. So when I\u2019m getting those reactions from hitters, it tells me that everything\u2019s in a good spot.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Cubs\u2019 win Wednesday completed a sweep in which the Cubs outscored the A\u2019s 35-9. It was the A\u2019s first series in their new temporary home, Sutter Health Park, which is expected to play hitter-friendly. The series set a new record for the most runs given up by the A\u2019s in their first three home games of a season.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a good road trip,\u201d manager Craig Counsell<\/b> said, including a series split in Arizona. \u201cVery good road trip. And we did a nice job offensively. I feel like everybody\u2019s done something good offensively, which is a good spot to be in through the first nine games \u2013 seven games [stateside]. So we take it back home, with a nice feeling and a good flight.\u201d<\/p>\nComing home <\/h3>\n
The Cubs will celebrate opening day for the fourth and final time this season when they play their first game at Wrigley Field on Friday. Lefty Shota Imanaga is set to take the mound in the home opener against the Padres.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n