The Chicago Cubs have placed right-handed starting pitcher Jameson Taillon on the injured list with a strained right calf. The 33-year-old will miss extended time beyond the 15-day designation as Cubs manager Craig Counsell delivered the unpleasant update prior to Friday's series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Taillon was the scheduled starter for Saturday's game at Wrigley Field. Meanwhile, left-hander Jordan Wicks has been called up from Triple-A to replace Taillon on the 26-man active roster.
Taillon has a 4.44 ERA in 17 starts for the Cubs so far in 2025. The veteran had back-to-back rough outings in late June against division rivals and was only able to go 4.2 innings in his last start against the Houston Astros on Sunday.
Through his first 14 starts of the year Taillon recorded a 3.48 ERA.
Counsell said Taillon is expected to miss significant time after he strained his right calf during a training session. As of now, veteran Chris Flexen is the No. 1 candidate to fill in for Taillon in the starting rotation.
Flexen, 31, has been great out of the bullpen for the Cubs this season after he was called up from Triple-A back in May. The right-hander has made 16 appearances and has only given up two earned runs in 29 innings of work. He pitched Thursday night against the Cleveland Guardians, tossing a scoreless 10th inning before Matt Shaw hit a walk-off sac fly that gave Flexen his fifth win of the year with the Cubs.
The veteran righty has been near perfect as Flexen has recorded a 0.62 ERA and 0.83 WHIP. In 2024, Flexen made 30 starts with the Chicago White Sox. He ended last season with a 3.32 ERA in his final 38 innings with the White Sox and does have a couple solid years on his track record with the Seattle Mariners in 2021 and 2022.
The Cubs were already looking for rotation help and now with Taillon's injury they will desperately need to add on before the trade deadline.
