Cubs' Taillon (calf) to miss more than month

CHICAGO -- Chicago Cubs righty Jameson Taillon was placed connected the injured database connected Friday with a close calf strain, the squad announced earlier its crippled against the St. Louis Cardinals. He's expected to miss "more than a month," according to manager Craig Counsell.

Taillon, 33, injured his calf connected his past upwind sprint aft a bullpen league connected Thursday.

"He's going to miss a beauteous important magnitude of time," Counsell said.

Taillon was 7-6 with a 4.44 ERA successful 17 starts for the Cubs this play who conscionable got lefty Shota Imanaga backmost from a hamstring injury. Now they'll person to navigate astatine slightest the remainder of this period without 1 of their different cardinal starters.

"There's a small country for america to beryllium flexible close now," Counsell said citing the upcoming all-star break. "We'll usage that to our vantage and we'll spell from there."

The squad recalled left-hander Jordan Wicks to instrumentality Taillon's spot connected the roster though helium won't spell straight into the rotation. Instead, the Cubs volition propulsion a bullpen crippled connected Saturday against the Cardinals and "go from there," according to Counsell.

Wicks, 25, went 1-3 with 1 save, a 4.06 ERA and 46 strikeouts successful 12 appearances (11 starts) with Triple-A Iowa this season. In his past 5 starts dating to May 18, helium posted a 1.65 ERA with 20 strikeouts, compared to conscionable 3 walks, a 0.86 WHIP and a .186 hostile batting average.

The squad mightiness besides see a bigger relation for righty Chris Flexen who has been fantastic for them retired of the bullpen. Flexen, 31, has a 0.62 ERA successful 16 games, including a 4 inning stint precocious past month.

"He's a campaigner to beryllium stretched retired for sure," Counsell said. "He's prepared to bash a small spot more."

Cubs brass has already stated they are looking for starting pitching earlier the commercialized deadline aboriginal this month. Counsell was asked if Taillon's wounded increases that need. He didn't instrumentality the bait.

"The commercialized deadline isn't until July 31," helium said. "I'm focused connected the adjacent week oregon 10 games earlier the All-Star break."