Jameson Taillon

Jameson Taillon, 34-year-old Cubs right-hander, is struggling significantly in 2026. Through 9 starts and 50.2 innings, he leads MLB with 20 home runs allowed—an unsustainable rate. In a particularly brutal outing against the White Sox, Taillon surrendered 5 home runs in a single game. He acknowledges that hitters have adjusted to his pitching style, particularly his tendency to pitch away to lefties. His fastball velocity has declined to a career-low 91.7 mph, and his FIP (6.02) suggests underlying performance issues beyond luck. Despite some quality starts (3.94 ERA over 45.2 innings in one stretch), his overall 4.24 ERA and high home run rate are concerning for a veteran pitcher on a contending team.