Shortly after finishing up his rehabilitation start with the Iowa Cubs on Sept. 4, Chicago Cubs pitcher Jameson Taillon retreated to the Principal Park clubhouse in left field. Taillon, who had a flight to catch to Chicago later in the evening, planned to provide some good news to his big-league teammates.

The veteran right-handed pitcher declared himself healthy, happy and ready to return to the majors whenever he’s needed again after pitching into the fourth inning of Iowa’s game against the Omaha Storm Chasers.

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“I don’t think this will be a problem at all,” Taillon said in an interview with the Des Moines Register following his outing in Des Moines. “I think we’ll be sharp for the playoff push.”

That’s the hope. Taillon, who is expected to play a big role for the Cubs down the stretch, was placed on the 15-day injured list retroactive to Aug. 25 with a left-groin strain. The veteran right-hander had gone 9-6 with a 4.15 ERA in 19 starts with Chicago this season.

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Injuries have slowed his season considerably. Taillon missed time earlier this season when he suffered a left calf strain. He made three starts with Iowa before being summoned back to Chicago.

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The time there was short-lived. Taillon made two strong starts with the Cubs and was placed back on the IL. During his last outing, he gave up just one run on three hits in five innings on Aug. 24.

“It was unfortunate, for sure,” Taillon said. “I was pretty upset for a day or two after. You do everything you can to put your body in a great spot and I feel I’ve been locked into my routine and doing great work with the trainers and strength coach.”

Luckily for Taillon, the injury wasn’t serious. In fact, the hurler said he thought he could have pitched through the injury. But the Cubs opted to be cautious with Taillon and give him a rest.

During the time off, Taillon worked with the club’s training staff who put together what he believes was a good plan. The plan worked so well that within five or six days, all of the soreness was gone.

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Still, Taillon had to get back on a mound to make sure he was ready. That came with Iowa, which is in the midst of a six-game series with Omaha. There were ups and downs throughout the day for Taillon, who gave up three runs, all earned, on six hits in 3.2 innings.

He walked one, struck out six and gave up two homers. Taillon was lifted in the fifth after giving out a two-out single. He threw 68 pitches, including 45 strikes. The most impressive part of the day: the 17 whiffs he generated from Omaha hitters.

“The changeup was really good,” Taillon said. “I think we’re in a really nice place with that. The curveball was good and then I was able to use the heater in some decent spots. The whiffs were really good.”

Taillon gave up a leadoff single to John Rave and then surrendered a two-run homer to Harold Castro to give Omaha 2-0 lead in the first. The only other real damage came in the fourth when Tyler Gentry launched a solo home run to push the lead to 3-0.

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“I don’t think they were hit particularly hard at all,” Taillon said. “I’d rather keep the ball out of the air with slug. That’s going to be a goal moving forward.”

Taillon said he wasn’t sure what’s next for him. He hopes that his outing in Des Moines will be his last with Iowa. The plan was for him to fly to the Windy City after his start. But when he’ll be activated is still up the air. If it comes soon, Taillon said he’s ready.

“It obviously depends on what they need up there and how their plans are going to go,” Taillon said.

Tommy Birch, the Register’s sports enterprise and features reporter, has been working at the newspaper since 2008. He’s the 2018, 2020 and 2023 Iowa Sportswriter of the Year. Reach him at [email protected] or 515-284-8468.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Chicago Cubs starter Jameson Taillon happy with rehab start with Iowa