Chicago Cubs: Taillon’s first rehab outing; Cabrera throws for the first time since injury

The Chicago Cubs’ story this season has centered around the calamity that has been their pitching. Specifically, it centers around the injuries that have caused that calamity.

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The team currently has a full major league-level pitching staff on the IL. Many of the thirteen pitchers on the shelf—Cade Horton, Edward Cabrera, Justin Steele, Daniel Palencia, Ben Brown, Jameson Taillon, Hoby Milner, Phil Maton—factored heavily into plans for this season’s run at the postseason.

Amid this wave of misfortune, Chicago has had to rely on castoffs from other organizations to fill essential staff spots. And although they’ve done pretty well considering the constant setbacks, the reality of the situation is that their current ragtag squad of pitchers will not carry them through the playoffs and, maybe, won’t even get them there in the first place.

But there is at least some good news on the pitching front.

Taillon’s rehab outing with South Bend

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On Sunday, veteran right-hander Taillon pitched his first rehab session since going down with a left hamstring strain on June 9.

Pitching for the High-A South Bend Cubs against the Beloit Sky Carp, the 34-year-old allowed four hits and one earned run in 3.1 innings pitched, posting two strikeouts and no walks. In total, he threw 45 pitches and delivered 35 of them for strikes.

There’s been a lot of talk that the Cubs might opt to make this Taillon’s only rehab start before bringing him back to the major league team. It’s possible that a short outing with Chicago could be in the plans before using the upcoming All-Star break as extra time off for rest and recovery.

Bringing him back in this manner is a bit of a push, but the Cubs are at the point of desperation when it comes to fielding a team with established big league pitchers. Even with Taillon’s ugly 2-5 record and 5.19 ERA through thirteen starts, the Cubs are still betting on him being better than anyone else they have left in reserve.

A “good day” for Cabrera

Meanwhile, there was also some good news on the Edward Cabrera front.

On Sunday, the hard-throwing 28-year-old threw his first bullpen session since being placed on the IL June 24 with a left hamstring and adductor strain. Cubs manager Craig Counsell described the outing as “a really good day.”

Cabrera, however, has also struggled prior to getting hurt. In fourteen starts, he’s logged a 5-4 record and an ugly 5.10 ERA.

The Cubs practically started the 2026 season with bad luck when they lost 24-year-old emerging ace Cade Horton for the season to an elbow injury requiring Tommy John surgery in just his second start of the year. From there, pitching piece after pitching piece fell. Even rehabbing ace Justin Steele, whose return from last year’s elbow surgery was expected around May-June, experienced a setback in his recovery and could be lost for the rest of the season.

It would be a big deal if Taillon and Cabrera could be back with the team at full strength for the pennant push through August-September. Until then, the Cubs will have to keep treading water with the best pitching they can currently muster and hope for a haul of reinforcements at the August 3 trade deadline.

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