--- title: "Taillon’s hamstring blowup forces Cubs into another pitching crunch" description: "Strained left hamstring ends Taillon’s night early; Javier Assad delivers six scoreless frames as Chicago drops another close one in extras." url: https://sportopod.com/en-US/cluster/cubs-jameson-taillon-leaves-vs-giants-in-second-inning-wit-0174c71e published: 2026-06-15T17:26:09.365+00:00 updated: 2026-06-15T17:26:09.365+00:00 author: "Kostadin Stamboliev" publisher: "Pineido" site: "Sportopod" language: en topics: ["baseball", "basketball"] --- # Taillon’s hamstring blowup forces Cubs into another pitching crunch > Strained left hamstring ends Taillon’s night early; Javier Assad delivers six scoreless frames as Chicago drops another close one in extras. Jameson Taillon exited Sunday’s 2-1, 10-inning loss to the San Francisco Giants in the second inning with a strained left hamstring after an inside changeup to Matt Chapman. The Cubs starter allowed one run before leaving, and the team expects him to land on the injured list after an MRI Monday. Taillon said the injury doesn’t appear surgical and hopes to keep his arm in shape during the stint. Chicago has lost 20 of its last 27 games, underscoring a pitching emergency that now includes a rotation void. The Cubs’ rotation has posted a 5.20 ERA over the last 27 games, ranking 28th in MLB, while the bullpen has posted a 4.75 ERA, 25th in the league. Javier Assad replaced Taillon and delivered 6 1/3 scoreless innings, retiring the final 12 batters he faced. Assad’s outing kept the Cubs in the game before Keegan Thompson surrendered the winning run in the 10th on Chapman’s RBI single. The Giants’ bullpen preserved the lead after Taillon’s exit. Assad’s performance marked his second straight scoreless outing spanning 10 2/3 innings, lowering his season ERA to 2.16 across 46 innings. Chicago manager Craig Counsell faces a short-term tactical puzzle: Taillon’s IL placement opens a roster spot, while Assad’s performance complicates the rotation calculus. The front office must weigh Taillon’s health timeline against Assad’s sudden surge when the MRI results arrive Monday. The Cubs’ 40-man roster includes just two pitchers on the IL—Taillon and reliever Rowan Wick—leaving little margin for error with a 10-day IL minimum looming. What’s next: The Cubs will name Taillon’s IL placement and outline a rehab plan pending Monday’s MRI. Assad’s strong relief showing could earn him a longer audition, potentially reshaping the staff hierarchy as Chicago tries to stem its free-fall. The Cubs travel to Cincinnati for a three-game set starting Tuesday, where they’ll need every available arm to avoid a fourth straight series loss. ## Why this matters Taillon’s injury deepens the Cubs’ pitching crisis and likely lands him on the IL, creating a roster void. Assad’s dominant relief stint complicates the rotation calculus and could force Craig Counsell into a tough decision once MRI results land Monday. The Cubs’ 5.20 rotation ERA over the last 27 games highlights the systemic strain pushing the franchise toward a roster overhaul. ## Frequently asked ### How did Jameson Taillon get injured? Taillon felt a pull in his left hamstring after throwing an inside changeup to Matt Chapman in the second inning Sunday at Oracle Park. ### What’s next for Taillon’s status? He’ll undergo an MRI Monday and expects to be placed on the injured list; he called the injury non-surgical. ### How did Javier Assad perform in relief? Assad entered in the second, threw 6 1/3 scoreless innings, and retired the final 12 batters he faced in the Cubs’ 2-1, 10-inning loss. ### What’s the Cubs’ recent record? Chicago is 20-27 over its last 27 games and has dropped three straight series, including the weekend set to San Francisco. ### Who won the game after Taillon exited? The Giants won in the 10th on a Matt Chapman RBI single off reliever Keegan Thompson. ### How does this affect the Cubs’ rotation? Taillon’s IL stint opens a spot, and Assad’s outing raises his case for a longer look, complicating the staff pecking order. ## Sources & Citations - [Cubs' Jameson Taillon leaves vs. Giants in second inning with hamstring injury](https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/cubs-starter-jameson-taillon-leaves-vs-giants-in-second-inning-with-injury/) — TheNewsAPI.com (2026-06-08) --- Cite: Taillon’s hamstring blowup forces Cubs into another pitching crunch. Sportopod, 2026-06-15. https://sportopod.com/en-US/cluster/cubs-jameson-taillon-leaves-vs-giants-in-second-inning-wit-0174c71e