The Chicago Cubs lost starting pitcher Jameson Taillon to a left hamstring strain in the second inning of their 2-1, 10-inning defeat against the San Francisco Giants at Wrigley Field on June 7, 2026, severely depleting an already injured Chicago pitching rotation.
Taillon left the game after issuing a six-pitch walk to Matt Chapman to open the second inning, having already thrown 29 pitches in the opening frame.
The 34-year-old veteran had entered the game carrying a 5.13 ERA over 12 starts this season before his premature exit.
The injury deepens a rotation crisis for the Cubs, who are currently missing key pitchers Matthew Boyd due to a meniscus injury, Justin Steele with an elbow flexor strain, and Cade Horton with a damaged UCL.
Taillon Expects IL Stint
"Obviously it'll be an IL stint," said Jameson Taillon. "But hopefully we can keep the arm conditioned and moving around.
I don't think it's surgical or anything like that. I'm getting an MRI tomorrow and we'll know more then."
The right-hander stated that he felt an unusual sensation after throwing a full-count pitch to Chapman, prompting him to signal for the training staff immediately.
"In that at-bat to Chapman, just in between pitches I was trying to weigh whether it was worth throwing another pitch or not," said Taillon.
"Then threw the 3-2 pitch and felt it a little more. Nothing I've ever felt."
Despite the loss, Chicago received a historic relief performance from Javier Assad, who was recalled from Triple-A Iowa on June 6, 2026, as a precautionary roster addition.
