Cubs Will Use Third Pitcher to Fill in for Jameson Taillon

The Chicago Cubs have been without right-handed starting pitcher Jameson Taillon for a couple weeks and the team will be using a third pitcher to fill in for him in the starting rotation this week.

Taillon, 31, was placed on the 15-day injured list on April 20, with a left groin strain. It was a real shame because the veteran right-hander was coming off his best start of the season, allowing no runs in five innings on the road against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He struck out seven, walked two and only gave up two hits.

Unfortunately, Taillon won't be missing the minimum amount of time on the injured list. The right-hander's IL stint was retroactive to April 17, meaning he was eligible to return Tuesday against the Washington Nationals. The way the Cubs have worked around his absence left Thursday as his next turn in the rotation.

As for Taillon's return, he threw a bullpen session at the end of April and on Tuesday he threw 45 pitches in what was described as a high intensity bullpen session/sim game. The Cubs have lost both games in which they've used a pitcher to fill in for Taillon.

Spot Starts for Taillon
Javier Assad: 4/20 - 3 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 3 K, 2 BB. Cubs lost 6-2 to Dodgers.
Caleb Kilian: 4/29 - 3.1 IP, 7 ER, 10 H, 4 K, 2 BB. Cubs lost 7-6 to Marlins.

So, who's going to fill in for Taillon on Thursday against the Nationals?

Caleb Kilian didn't look like he was ready for the majors after he made Saturday's start and he wouldn't be eligible to come back anyway after he was optioned back down to Triple-A, unless he's replacing someone who is injured. Javier Assad pitched on Sunday, so he wouldn't be on full rest to make Thursday's start and Kyle Hendricks is pitching on Wednesday after Tuesday's Iowa Cubs game was rained out. Adrian Sampson has been on the injured list at Triple-A, while veteran lefty Roenis Elías is reportedly signing with a Korean team.

It could come down two a pair of right-handers.

Riley Thompson, 26, was drafted back in 2018 in the 11th round, but even at his age, Thompson has only made 53 total appearances in the minors, limited to 51 starts because of injuries. He's been good so far this year at Triple-A, posting a 2.40 ERA in 15 innings. He pitched two scoreless innings in relief on April 27, after allowing a total of four runs in 13 innings in his first three starts.

On April 20, Thompson struck out nine, walked three and did not allow a hit in five innings. So, he's an option, but maybe the Cubs want someone with MLB experience. That could open the door for Nick Neidert.

The Cubs picked up the 26-year-old righty in the offseason, signing Neidert to a minor league deal. He's made five starts at Triple-A, posting a 4.05 ERA in 20 innings. He's really only had one bad outing with the Iowa Cubs, coming on April 8, when Neidert gave up four earned runs on 11 hits in 2.1 innings. In his other four starts, Neidert has a 2.04 ERA in 17.2 innings.

Neidert's last start was on April 29. He allowed two runs in 5.2 innings, striking out six and walking one. From 2020-22, Neidert made eight starts and had 13 total appearances with the Miami Marlins. The right-hander has a 4.59 ERA in 49 innings in the big leagues.