Cubs' Jameson Taillon Out Over Month with Calf Strain

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jameson Taillon has been placed on the injured list with a right calf strain and is expected to miss more than a month, according to manager Craig Counsell. Taillon, who has a 7-6 record with a 4.44 ERA this season, sustained the injury during a wind sprint after a bullpen session. In response, the Cubs recalled left-hander Jordan Wicks from Triple-A Iowa, who has shown promising recent performance with a 1.65 ERA in his last five starts. The team plans to use a bullpen game to cover Taillon's absence initially and may consider expanding the role of reliever Chris Flexen, who has posted a 0.62 ERA in 16 games. While the Cubs are actively seeking starting pitching before the July 31 trade deadline, Counsell emphasized focusing on immediate games rather than trade speculation. The injury poses a challenge for the Cubs as they aim to maintain their momentum in the competitive MLB season.