Jameson Taillon, Chicago Cubs. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
The Chicago Cubs have been skidding after a great start to the season, falling below .500 with the latest loss. Which players are to blame for the slide?
After a relatively aggressive offseason, the Chicago Cubs seemed to be getting immediate returns on their investments in the 2023 season. The club began the year 14-11 and seemed to be in line to make a run to win the NL Central. Things have taken a turn for the worse since, however.
The Cubs have just four wins over their last 12 games, including going a measly 4-6 in May. They have not been the same team, which is unfortunate timing. The Pirates were atop the division but have been faltering mightily as of late. Meanwhile, the Brewers have been doing the same.
It’s been an ill-timed slide in the standings for the Cubs and there are a number of factors as to why. However, if we’re doing some finger-pointing, it’s hard not to blame these three Cubs for the skid that now has the club at just 18-19 and third in the division.
Chicago Cubs: 3 players most to blame for recent slide in standings
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Jameson Taillon
SP Cubs
Jameson Taillon hasn’t given the Cubs much of a chance in his starts
Jameson Taillon was one of the big moves for the Cubbies this offseason, a high-priced free-agent acquisition to help give a boost to the starting rotation. Unfortunately, things haven’t gone too smoothly for the former Yankee in Chicago.
The Cubs have lost all five of Taillon’s starts this season, though two of his starts in early April were not his fault, giving up three runs against the Brewers on April 2 when the Chicago bullpen then gave up six runs in a 9-5 loss. Then, he gave up just two hits and no runs on April 15 but the club lost 2-1 to the Dodgers.
That’s when an injury cropped up that kept Taillon out of the rotation for a few weeks. He made his return on May 4, though, and his two starts since coming back have been highly problematic.
Against the Cardinals, Taillon gave up three hits and three earned runs in just 3.0 innings of work in an eventual loss to the Nationals on May 4. It was even worse in his next start against the rival Cardinals, not even making it out of the third inning as he gave up five hits, two walks and four earned runs to St. Louis.
The club is paying Taillon to be one of the top-end starters. Since returning and in the midst of this recent slide, he’s been nearly unusable. The hope is certainly that, as he gets healthier, he can find some better form on the mound.