The Cubs set the start Jameson Taillon on the 15-day injured list, which resumed June 8, with left hamstring strain. Chicago brought in two relievers, Tyler Ferguson again Ethan Robertsfrom Triple-A Iowa. Trent Thornton enters the father’s list in another casting motion. Cubs are also activated Matt Shaw on the 10-day injured list and designated hitter Kevin Alcantara back in Iowa.
Chicago also added a lefty reliever Antoine Kelly on the 40-man roster, according to the MLB.com transaction log. Kelly was optioned to Triple-A. The Cubs acquired him in a trade with the Dodgers over the weekend. That suggests the Chicago native has created a walkout clause in his minor league contract with Los Angeles. Kelly has yet to reach the Majors.
Taillon has a medial strain, captain Craig Counsell told reporters (including Meghan Montemurro of The Chicago Tribune). The Cubs expect him to miss more than a month and be sidelined beyond the All-Star Break. Taillon had an average first few months, allowing a 5.19 earned run average through 67 2/3 innings.
The Cubs will turn to Colin Rea, Shota Imanaga again Edward Cabrera in this series at Coors Field. They haven’t listed any plans for their weekend in San Francisco. Matthew Boyd went five innings and 80 pitches in Iowa’s rehab start Saturday. He is expected to return from meniscus surgery this weekend. Boyd again Ben Brown should take the first two games of the Giants series in some order, which would return Rea to regular rest last time.
Brown is the only Cubs starter to have solid results this year. He stepped into the starting staff when Boyd went down in early May. Brown responded with a 1.44 ERA and a 29% strikeout rate through six starts. He continued to throw strikes while switching lineups multiple times. Cabrera, Imanaga and Rea all have big home runs. No team’s rotation has given up more long balls than Chicago’s 32.
It’s too early for the Cubs to make much of a trade. President of baseball Jed Hoyer acknowledged last week that that will be a major focus as the deadline approaches. They won’t be able to push Cabrera, Imanaga or Boyd out of the rotation anytime soon, but they can certainly move Rea back into a swing role. Jordan Wicks again Doug Nikhazy they are the only depth starters on the 40-man roster; both have struggled in Triple-A.
