In case you missed the news, we have another free Watch Party coming up this Monday, October 13 (Cubs in the NLCS or Bears-Commanders on MNF … we’ll see). And I bring that up not for promotion — though, I do hope to see you there — but because it got me thinking about Jameson Taillon and his fateful matchup against the Milwaukee Brewers tonight in Chicago.
If Jameson Taillon doesn’t help the Cubs win this game, that’s it. Season’s over. And if he’s not good enough to gobble up a healthy number of innings, then we’re just delaying the inevitable.
But for however surprising this may be — especially for a team that currently employs All-Star and team ace Justin Steele, All-Star and Opening Day starter Shota Imanaga, All-Star Matthew Boyd, and Rookie of the Year Favorite Cade Horton — Jameson Taillon is exactly the guy you want on the mound tonight.
And that’s only barely by default!
The last time we had a Bleacher Nation Watch Party, we were in the middle of that big five-game series against these Milwaukee Brewers. And I remember being annoyed that the second game of the initially scheduled Monday doubleheader was rained out. Because that meant, instead of Matthew Boyd vs the Brewers for our watch party on Tuesday night, it was going to be Jameson Taillon in his first big league start after spending nearly two months on the injured list.
Needless to say, I thought we had been downgraded significantly. And needless(er) to say, I was wrong.
Not only did Matthew Boyd give up four earned runs on six hits (including a homer) plus three walks in 5.1 innings, continuing an early downward slide that hasn’t stopped, but Jameson Taillon was surprisngly EXCELLENT in his half of the doubleheader.
Despite throwing 30(!) pitches in the first inning (a disaster for a guy coming off the IL) and allowing Andrew Vaughn to knock in a run with a first-inning, two-out, RBI single, Taillon turned on the jets and was absolutely nails from there on out.
His final line: 6.0 IP, 5H, 1ER, 1BB, 4K
Taillon needed just 62 more pitches to get through the final five frames of his outing, allowing only three more hits (and nothing else) the rest of the way. That was a wildly impressive effort from the Cubs veteran righty, who demonstrated (to me, at least) what kind of pitcher he is. Unrattled. Experienced. Capable. Dependable.
That’s exactly the kind of guy the Cubs need tonight.
© Katie Stratman-Imagn ImagesJameson Taillon – The Arm You Want
Although Jameson Taillon would require one more stint on the Injured List after that outing, that start marked the beginning of a very successful six-game stretch to end his regular season:
vsMIL: 6.0 IP, 5H, 1ER, 1BB, 4K @LAA: 5.0 IP, 3H, 1ER, 0BB, 3K ***IL STINT*** @ATL: 4.1 IP, 6H, 2ER, 2BB, 2K @PIT: 6.0 IP, 2H, 0ER, 2BB, 3K @CIN: 7.0 IP, 5H, 1ER, 0BB, 4K vSTL: 6.0 IP, 3H, 1ER, 2BB, 8KTOTAL: Six starts, 34.1 IP, 1.57 ERA (3.11 FIP) with a 5.3 BB%, .194 AVG against, and just ONE barrel in 100 batted ball events (1.0% barrel rate).
No, Taillon was striking guys out, nor was he generating elite levels of groundballs or anything like that. But nobody could square him up, and it worked for him, exceedingly so.
Taillon continued that success in the Wild Card round against the Padres, whom he kept scoreless over 4.0 innings, while looking absolutely NASTY and in control.
And his new kick change was coming in for some extra love:
Jameson Taillon, Filthy 83mph Kick Change. ? pic.twitter.com/jik5c45tU0
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) October 2, 2025Ultimately, in a potential elimination game with off-days coming, Craig Counsell was forced to pull Taillon to play his bullpen games (not the wrong decision, in retrospect). But there’s little doubt in my mind that Jameson Taillon could’ve kept going against the Padres.
And tonight, he might be asked to go longer against the Brewers.
Don’t get me wrong, Counsell must do WHATEVER it takes to live another day. And if that means an early hook to play the matchups because you have a lead to protect (or whatever), then yeah, fine. Do it.
But unlike last time, if the Cubs do win, there’s no off-day tomorrow. Just a totally gassed (… six weeks ago) Matthew Boyd and an exhausted Cubs bullpen. Throw in the fact that Taillon’s arm is EXTREMELY fresh (only 129.2 regular-season innings, an extra day of rest since his last start, and only four innings thrown since September 27), and I just wouldn’t be surprised if Counsell tries to ride him as long as he can.
© Matt Marton-Imagn ImagesJameson Taillon vs the Brewers
Now, there are other factors to consider.
For one, that wasn’t the only time Jameson Taillon has faced the Brewers this season. And although he delivered another solid performance against Milwaukee in early May (6.0 IP, 2H, 2ER, 1BB, 5K), the Brewers torched him a bit in mid June: 4.0 IP, 8H, 5ER, 1BB, 2K. So it’s not like he owns Milwaukee, by any means.
Likewise, although Jameson Taillon’s new kick-change has completely reinvented his success against left-handed batters this season, there is a history there with lefties doing extra damage. So even with the wind blowing in, one too many looks from Christian Yelich, or Brice Turang, or Sal Frelick, or Isaac Collins, or Blake Perkins (or whomever is batting from the left side) could be devastating.
And there is some dangerous matchup history there (and elsewhere), too:
Jackson Chourio: 7-13, 2 2Bs, HR, K Christian Yelich: 13-37, 2B, 2 HRs, 4BB, 6K Andrew Vaughn: 3-9, HR, 2KBut I won’t leave you with that bad taste in your mouth.
So I can start by sharing these slightly better (albeit tiny sample-sized) matchups between key Brewers players and Jameson Taillon for his career:
Isaac Collins: 0-6, BB, 3K William Contrears: 4-24, BB, 4K Caleb Durbin: 1-7, HR, K Sal Frelick: 5-20, BB, 3K Joey Ortiz: 2-11, 2B, K Brice Turang: 4-20, 2B, 2KAnd end by pointing out that, in 2025, Jameson Taillon has been a LOT better at Wrigley Field (3.05 ERA, .265 wOBA against) than he has been on the road (4.20 ERA, .322 wOBA against).
In theory, Jameson Taillon should be something like the fifth-best starter on this Cubs team (with easily the lowest ceiling of the bunch). But because of injuries (Steele, Horton) and complete disintegrations (Boyd, Imanaga), he’s the best the Cubs have to offer at the moment. And that’s going to have to be good enough tonight.
Go Taillon. Go Cubs. We want another game.
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