BALTIMORE — Jameson Taillon hoped he could return to the Chicago Cubs’ rotation and make at least an abbreviated start before next week’s All-Star break.
The Cubs, though, are more inclined to have the veteran make one more minor-league rehab start before coming off the injured list, which would instead set up Taillon to come back when the second half resumes next weekend.
There is a caveat to that plan, manager Craig Counsell noted before Tuesday’s series opener at Camden Yards. If the Cubs, for some reason, need another starter in the coming days, “then he would be available on a limited basis.”
Taillon is with the team in Baltimore after his rehab start Sunday with High-A South Bend. In 3 1/3 innings, Taillon gave up one run on four hits while striking out two and not walking a batter on 50 pitches. If everything goes well in his next rehab start, Taillon would be in good shape to return after the All-Star break.
“I told Craig the other day after I threw a good bullpen I was probably about to start getting annoying,” Taillon said last week. “I was really trying not to be, and then with all the injuries, and we’re playing well, we’re swinging it well, and I think we’re turning a corner, and you just want to be a part of that, especially this time of the year. It’s not early anymore, it’s time to go, so just really excited to help, and excited about the work we’ve been putting in, just to stay sharp, so when I come back, hopefully it’s sharp and not just me coming back to come back.”
Among the 15 players on the Cubs’ IL, Taillon is the closest to returning.
Right-hander Daniel Palencia (flexor strain) is symptom-free and making progress, advancing to throwing a baseball after beginning his throwing program last week with plyo balls. The Cubs’ closer is still weeks away from returning, though. Counsell anticipates Palencia throwing off a mound after the All-Star break.
Edward Cabrera (left hamstring strain) had his best running and throwing day Sunday, and the right-hander is expected to do more of the same work this week.
“We’ll go from there,” Counsell said. “It’s 13 days since he got injured, so pretty new still, but we’re making good progress.”
Right-hander Ben Brown stayed back in Chicago to continue his work. Brown is expected to start ramping up activity to see how the stress reaction in his neck reacts, with the goal of not creating any symptoms. He’s utilizing light plyo ball work to keep his arm moving. Brown will likely undergo imaging again at some point to see how the fracture is healing, but Counsell didn’t know yet what the timetable for that would be.
Matt Shaw also remained in Chicago as he is still experiencing symptoms with his left hand sprain after testing it by swinging a bat over the weekend. Shaw will again get four or five days of rest before retesting his hand in the cage.
