Taillon tunes out Deadline noise in latest quality start

CHICAGO -- Jameson Taillon remembers being a young prospect in the Pirates’ system and being told by a pitching coordinator to look around the fields at the team’s Spring Training complex. All those scouts he saw in attendance meant that he was pitching not just for Pittsburgh, but for every team in a way.

“In the big leagues, it’s the same way,” Taillon said.

Taillon is now a well-established Major League veteran and a source of consistency within the Cubs’ rotation. On Tuesday night, following an 84-minute rain delay, the big right-hander pitched into the eighth inning for the North Siders, walked off the field to an ovation from the Wrigley Field faithful, but wound up on the wrong side of a 1-0 loss to the rival Brewers.

With a week remaining until the July 30 Trade Deadline, Taillon understands the landscape. He is pitching well and under contract for two more seasons, as part of the four-year, $68 million pact he signed with Chicago during free agency. It only makes sense for contenders to at least inquire about his potential availability.

“There’s definitely noise going on,” Taillon said. “But at the end of the day, I’ve been around long enough to just understand that, ‘I have a start tonight and I’ve got to go about my routine.’ And if I don’t check my boxes and do what I need to do, then I’m going to put the team in a bad spot. That’s just kind of the discipline and the professionalism aspect.”

Against the National League Central-leading Brewers, who pushed the Cubs 10 games back in the division, Taillon logged 7 1/3 innings. He limited Milwaukee to four hits (all singles) and ended with three strikeouts and three walks. The lone run on his line was scored after Taillon exited his outing.

On the season, the 32-year-old righty now has a 2.96 ERA with 78 strikeouts and 21 walks in 100 1/3 innings (17 starts). He has really turned things up a notch in his past eight turns, logging a 2.47 ERA with 43 strikeouts and eight walks in 51 innings in that span.

“Watching Jamo pitch has been one of my favorite parts of this season,” Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner said. “I think just when you know him behind the scenes and you know his preparation and seeing him put it forward, it’s one of the most satisfying things. His conviction every single pitch … is pretty incredible.”

Taillon’s run of strong performances extends beyond just this season, too.

After inking his four-year free-agent deal with the Cubs, Taillon initially got off to a rough start, admitting last year that the pressure of a big contract and a new city may have contributed. Dating back to July 7 of last season, though, he has turned in a 3.16 ERA with 18 quality starts and 159 strikeouts versus 42 walks in 191 innings (33 games).

Entering play on Tuesday, Taillon’s ERA in that timeframe ranked eighth among all qualified Major League pitchers. The only names in front of him were Corbin Burnes, Tarik Skubal, Seth Lugo, Zack Wheeler, Cole Ragans, Logan Gilbert and Tanner Bibee.

“Jamo, he watches the game very well,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “He’s just very skilled at what he does, so I think he sees things pretty quickly. I think he makes adjustments in-game. He makes adjustments and, at the same time, stays super convicted in-game.”

Taillon also sees things for how they are for the Cubs right now, too.

When Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer held court with reporters on Monday, detailing how the front office’s Deadline focus would be on “‘25 and beyond” given the current landscape, Taillon was not surprised.

“We just haven’t played the way we should. So it’s not like that caught me or probably anyone off-guard,” Taillon said. “It stinks, but it is what it is. We’ve done it to ourselves.”

Taillon also knows what it is like to be traded. After spending the first four years of his career with the Pirates, he was traded to the Yankees in a five-player package in the offseason before the 2021 season. After two years in New York, Taillon earned the right to enter free agency and hand-picked the Cubs.

The pitcher hopes to stick around, too.

“I’ve had a great time here,” Taillon said. “I love showing up here every day. It’s a great group of guys. I think we’ve said it a lot -- I feel like we should be better than we are. But to this point, we just haven’t gotten it done and results speak louder than any words we can say here.

“I would love to stay here, obviously. I chose coming to Chicago and being a Cub, so that’s where I’m at.”