Cubs place Jameson Taillon on IL with left hamstring strain, targeting return after All-Star break

The Chicago Cubs placed right-hander Jameson Taillon on the 15-day injured list Tuesday due to a left hamstring strain, a move that immediately alters the shape of their rotation as they push through the final weeks before the All-Star break. Taillon’s injury is expected to keep him out for at least the next six-plus weeks, with manager Craig Counsell indicating the plan is to have him back after the break.

Taillon felt the issue during Chicago’s game action in recent days. He exited after a second-inning walk to Giants hitter Matt Chapman on Sunday, and the team sent him for testing on Monday before he did not travel with the Cubs to Colorado. Counsell described the imaging as showing a “moderate strain,” reinforcing that this is not being treated as a short DL situation even though the Cubs still hope to get him back for the second half.

The Cubs filled Taillon’s spot on the pitching staff for the series by recalling Ethan Roberts from Triple-A Iowa. On Tuesday, Chicago also recalled right-hander Tyler Ferguson from Iowa as it managed the pitching staff’s immediate workload, with right-hander Trent Thornton being placed on MLB’s paternity list. Together, those moves underline how quickly the Cubs’ internal depth has been forced into rotation duty as injuries have continued to surface.

Taillon’s absence hits a rotation that has already been operating through multiple health issues. The Cubs have dealt with Cade Horton being out for the season with a right elbow injury, while Justin Steele’s left flexor strain has left his timetable unclear. Edward Cabrera recently returned from the IL, and the team has leaned on other starters while preparing for additional changes in the weeks ahead.

Chicago also appears to be looking for stabilizers elsewhere in their rotation picture. Matthew Boyd, who is recovering from left knee surgery performed May 7, is expected to return soon and is on track to make a start during an upcoming three-game series in San Francisco that begins Friday. That potential return, paired with the later expectation for Taillon, gives the Cubs a narrower but clearer path to restoring a full starting rotation rhythm after the break.

For now, the Cubs’ focus is on coverage. With Taillon sidelined on the IL and the rotation operating with gaps from other injuries, the burden shifts to the bullpen and to the younger or less frequent starters who will be asked to stretch out and absorb innings. The next few series will likely serve as a stress test for how Chicago manages pitch counts, bullpen availability, and sequencing against opponents while waiting for Boyd and later Taillon to rejoin the group.