Cubs right-hander Jameson Taillon is set to take the mound Thursday in Game 3 of the wild-card series against the Padres with elimination at stake.
“You do a lot of work throughout the years and throughout the season to be ready for big moments,” Taillon said after the Cubs’ 3-0 loss Wednesday. “And I’m looking forward to it.”
If the Cubs win, they’ll advance to the National League Division Series against the Brewers. If they lose, their first playoff appearance in five years will fizzle in the first round. Former Cub Yu Darvish will be on the mound for the Padres.
Taillon has pitched in the postseason before, making a relief appearance in the American League Division Series and a start in the AL Championship Series for the Yankees in 2022. But this will be his first time pitching in an elimination game.
“It’s less about me and just more about these guys,” Taillon said. “I really do love this team and love this city, and I want to come through for these guys in here. This is why I’m here; I’m here to pitch these types of games.”
He made the decision to join the Cubs not long after that postseason run with the Yankees, signing a four-year deal worth $68 million in December 2022. This is the organization’s first playoff run since.
Taillon’s season (11-7, 3.68 ERA) has been interrupted briefly by two minor lower-body injuries, a strained right calf and strained left groin. But in four starts since returning from the latter, he had a 1.54 ERA.
“Every start has its own life,” Taillon said. “They don’t care how I’ve been feeling, I have to go out there and execute pitches. But that being said, you obviously want to go in with some momentum and some confidence. So I feel good about where I’m at, I feel good about the work we’ve done between starts and I’ll be ready to go.”
Facing elimination
The Cubs haven’t advanced past the wild-card round since 2017, when they fell to the Dodgers in five games in the NLCS.
Their last two postseason berths have included wild-card exits, even when they won the NL Central in 2020 because of the unique playoff format that year.
“[If] we just stay within ourselves and play our game, I like our chances,” veteran reliever Andrew Kittredge said.
He pitched in relief Tuesday and as the opener Wednesday. But he chuckled when asked if he was available to go out there again Thursday.
“Oh, yeah,” he said. “Our season could end tomorrow. So you just gut it out, and you know that whether you’re sore or whether you’re hanging at all, it doesn’t really matter at this point. You just give it everything you got. And I think everybody’s in that position where they want to contribute if they can.”
