Cubs pitcher Jameson Taillon likely headed for early-season IL stint

MESA, Ariz. — Cubs manager Craig Counsell didn’t have an update on right-hander Jameson Taillon, who missed his scheduled spring debut with lower back tightness.

Without a positive update, Taillon likely won’t be ready for the season opener.

“I think it is fair to say that Opening Day is unlikely in terms of getting him ready just because of missing the prep and buildup,” Counsell said Tuesday. “As we get him back on the field, that lets us figure out a timetable.”

Counsell said Taillon is likely headed for an early-season stint on the injured list. Taillon participated in a light throwing session Tuesday, but with the opener weeks away, time isn’t on Taillon’s side to prepare as a starter.

“If we can start playing catch right away, I think we can stay on the same schedule,” Counsell said. “But the fact is you got to get into game action.”

The Cubs will need a fifth starter if Taillon isn’t available at the beginning of the season. Hayden Wesneski, Javier Assad, Jordan Wicks and Drew Smyly all are options for that fifth spot.

Defining bullpen roles

Right-hander Julian Merryweather entered spring training knowing exactly what he wanted to work on.

“Last year, the biggest thing was too many free passes,” Merryweather told the Sun-Times. ‘‘I really locked in on my command and why I was walking guys.”

Merryweather had a career high in innings pitched (72) and strikeouts per nine innings (12.25), but his career-high 4.50 walks per nine innings was above league average for relief pitchers.

The spotlight is on the Cubs’ bullpen this season after it petered out down the stretch last year. But Counsell has yet to define roles.

“I think it should be evolving for sure,” Counsell said of the bullpen. “If it’s not evolving, that’d be great. You shouldn’t be stuck on, ‘This is how it’s going to be on Opening Day,’ and it’s not changing. You have to be ready to change your mind because it’s a hard job, and it’s fickle, and the sample sizes are small.”

Lineup mixing and matching

The later spring training gets, the more the lineup will start to resemble what it could look like on Opening Day, but Counsell said he loves that the lineup can change on a given day. Outfielder Seiya Suzuki, who played right field most of last season, started in left Tuesday.

Counsell uses the spring to experiment.

“At some point in the season, this could be a scenario that we use,” Counsell said of Suzuki manning left field. “This is the time to get him some left field to get him some experience out there. I don’t see him in left field to start the season, but we’re just going to get him some experience at a position he doesn’t play as much in spring training.”

Suzuki hit 12 homers during the final two months of last season.

“It’s one of those hitters that is the most dangerous hitter because there’s like lots of hits in there, and there’s damage,” Counsell said of Suzuki during the end of the season. “It leaves fewer options for pitchers because the damage scares pitchers when you’re game planning.”

Cubs 6, Brewers 5

Justin Steele was sharp in his third spring start. The left-hander allowed one run and struck out nine in four innings at Sloan Park.

“Felt really good with my four-seamer and my slider,” Steele said. “I would say like midseason form with them. I was just coming off the fingertip going where I wanted to. Maybe missed a few, overcooked them, but for the most part I was commanding my slider really well.”

• Outfielder Cody Bellinger had a two-run single in a four-run fifth.

• Non-roster invitee David Peralta made his debut at DH.

• Patrick Wisdom hit a walk-off homer off of James Meeker.

• On deck: Cubs at Guardians, 3:05 p.m. Wednesday, Goodyear, Kyle Hendricks vs. Tanner Bibee.