Cubs’ Jameson Taillon scratched from would-be 2024 spring-training debut

MESA, Ariz. — Right-hander Jameson Taillon was scratched with lower-back tightness from what would’ve been his 2024 Cactus League debut, manager Craig Counsell announced after the game.

About 10 pitches into the mound portion of Taillon’s warmup, his back “locked up on him,” Counsell said. It was the first time this spring that Taillon had reported any issues with his back.

“Hope to know more tomorrow,” Counsell said. “Let’s see what happens overnight, have more guidance on what we’re going to do here.”

Counsell wasn’t ready to measure the club’s level of concern before then. As of Saturday afternoon, there was no plan to send Taillon to undergo imaging on his back.

“Obviously, what you hope for is, it was just a spasm, and it goes away,” Counsell said, “which is still in the world of possibilities, for sure.”

In Taillon’s place, left-handed non-roster invitee Thomas Pannone took the mound against the Rockies. Pannone threw three scoreless innings, allowing only one hit in the Cubs’ 5-0 victory.

Taillon’s last start day was Monday, when he threw a simulated game. The Cubs preferred a controlled environment for him to repeat his mechanics and avoid aggravating the calf soreness he had been feeling during pitchers’ fielding practice.

Happ, Peralta take live BP

Outfielders Ian Happ and David Peralta took live batting practice on the back fields.

Peralta, who had fflexor tendon surgery on his left forearm this offseason, expects to make his spring-training debut Tuesday against the Brewers. He signed a non-roster invite deal with the team.

Happ has been advancing steadily in his hitting progression this week after suffering a mild hamstring strain last Thursday. It was his first time facing pitchers since the injury.

“Nice thing about being here is that there’s plenty of minor-league games, plenty of live at-bats to go get,” Happ said before taking BP on the field Wednesday. “So it’s not like getting hurt during the season where you’ve got to wait, you’ve got to go down and take at-bats from minor-league guys and have two at-bats, and you’re out because you can’t play a full [game]. I can run around out there on the back fields and get 20 at-bats in an hour, so that won’t be a problem.”

The Cubs have not given a specific timeline for Happ’s return to spring-training games but are confident he’ll be ready for Opening Day.

Camp cuts

The Cubs announced that they had assigned pitchers Chris Clarke, Sam McWilliams and Brad Wieck to minor-league camp. All three were non-roster invitees from within the organization.

The moves reduced their spring-training roster to 47 players.

The Cubs made their first round of camp cuts Friday, trimming the camp roster from 62 to 50.

Cubs 5, Rockies 0

• Despite scheduled starter Jameson Taillon being scratched with lower back tightness, Cubs pitchers limited the Rockies to three hits. In a combined shutout, relievers Carl Edwards Jr., Adbert Alzolay, Yency Almonte and Daniel Palencia all threw hitless innings. Hector Neris and Hunter Bigge limited Colorado to one hit in each of their scoreless innings.
• Cubs third baseman Patrick Wisdom returned to the lineup and went 2-for-3 with two RBI. Wisdom hadn’t played in a game since Feb. 27, due to tightness in his right quadriceps. He and designated hitter Dominic Smith led the team Saturday with two hits apiece.
• Cubs center fielder Cody Bellinger recorded his first extra-base hit of spring, a two-run automatic double that bounced over the right field fence and into the visitor’s bullpen in the third inning. It was Bellinger’s third game of the spring after signing during camp.
• On deck: Cubs at Rangers, 3:05 Sunday, Surprise, Drew Smyly vs. Cody Bradford.