Cubs right-hander Jameson Taillon’s first start of the season Tuesday wasn’t perfect, but it was a step in the right direction after a poor spring training.
Facing the Angels, Taillon more resembled the pitcher he has been throughout his career. He allowed two hits, walked four and struck out three in 4⅔ scoreless innings.
In spring training, Taillon posted a 17.55 ERA with 12 strikeouts and nine walks in five starts. The results were startling enough that he had to reconsider what he was doing on the mound. Taillon said he just wanted to get out of Arizona and back to Wrigley Field after an atrocious spring training.
“It felt good to just get back out there and start the year on a decent note,” Taillon said after Tuesday’s 2-0 loss.
Most veteran starters use spring training to work on their arsenals, sharpen a pitch or get stretched out. That Taillon felt the need to tinker with his delivery was a sound-the-alarm moment for him and the Cubs.
Aside from right-hander Edward Cabrera, who dazzled in his Cubs debut Monday, and right-hander Cade Horton, who allowed two runs and four hits in 6⅓ innings Saturday, the starting pitching has been a bit suspect early on. Opening Day starter Matthew Boyd had a shaky first outing, fellow left-hander Shota Imanaga allowed four runs Sunday and Taillon entered his first start with question marks after his subpar spring.
Taillon’s spring struggles raised questions about whether the Cubs have enough starting pitching to make a run deep into October. Their need for starting pitching was so great that they traded prized outfield prospect Owen Caissie to the Marlins for Cabrera.
But even if Cabrera and Horton are on the right track, the Cubs will need Boyd, Imanaga and Taillon to give them quality outings, as well.
Taillon dealt with traffic on the bases early. With two outs and a runner on third in the first, Taillon struck out Jorge Soler on a 1-2 sweeper.
In the second, Taillon allowed a one-out single to Jo Adell and walked Josh Low
