Jameson Taillon strong as Cubs defeat Nationals

CHICAGO – As the focus begins to shift to the future for the Cubs, the team is hopeful that its starting staff offers a great foundation for the roster. The rotation should remain mostly intact for next season and that is a good thing for a Chicago club aiming to construct a playoff team.

On Friday, right-hander Jameson Taillon gave the North Siders six shutout innings in a 3-1 victory over the Nationals, continuing his stellar September and solid campaign overall. A solo homer by Dansby Swanson in the first inning helped back Taillon’s 15th quality start of the year.

Taillon struck out four and relinquished just two hits in his outing, which lowered his ERA to 1.08 through four starts in September. On the year as a whole, the righty has a 3.41 ERA, which is his lowest in a season since 2018, when he had a 3.20 ERA in a standout showing for the Pirates.

Led by the quartet of Taillon, Shota Imanaga, Justin Steele and Javier Assad, the Cubs have turned in a 3.81 ERA out of the rotation to date this season, ranking third in the National League. All four of those arms are under team control next season, with a group of younger arms filling out the depth chart behind them.

Swanson’s shot in the opening frame came off Nationals starter (and former Cubs pitcher) Trevor Williams, who logged five solid innings in a return from the injured list. In the seventh, Mike Tauchman delivered a two-run single with two outs off reliever Eduardo Salazar to give Chicago some insurance.