SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. \u2014 Days after being optioned to Triple-A Iowa, right-hander Caleb Kilian<\/b> took the mound for the Cubs on Monday against the Diamondbacks at Salt River Fields.<\/p>\n
Right-hander Jameson Taillon<\/b> was lined up to pitch, but he already had faced the Diamondbacks once this spring and is likely to make his first regular-season start in the four-game series in Phoenix that opens the Cubs\u2019 domestic schedule.<\/p>\n
So instead of giving the Diamondbacks another look at Taillon, the Cubs had him throw a simulated game at their spring-training complex in Mesa and gave the ball to Kilian. He allowed three runs and four hits in 2 1\/3 innings.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018[Kilian] just needs to be healthy and perform,\u2019\u2019 manager Craig Counsell<\/b> said during the weekend. \u2018\u2018He\u2019s in that stage of his career. He got off to a great start in spring last year, [then] had a significant injury. By the end of the year, [he] kind of got himself straightened out and obviously back to the big leagues.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
Three games into Kilian\u2019s impressive spring last season, he strained a muscle in his right shoulder and began the season on the 60-day injured list.<\/p>\n
Kilian made two major-league starts at the end of the season. He touched 97.4 mph in both, but his fastball averaged less than 94 mph.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018Caleb\u2019s velocity has fluctuated a lot during his career,\u2019\u2019 Counsell said. \u2018\u2018He set a really high bar last spring of what he can get to. He\u2019s not there right now, but he hadn\u2019t been there before, either. So that\u2019s a tough question to answer. .\u2009.\u2009. He\u2019s a healthy pitcher. But when you flash 100 [mph], that piques everybody\u2019s interest, there\u2019s no doubt about it.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
Kilian topped out at 96.8 mph Monday, according to Statcast, and his fastball averaged 95.4 mph, suggesting progress.<\/p>\n
Taillon pitched three innings in an all-but-empty Sloan Park. Minor-leaguers, Cubs staff and a few scattered reporters dotted the seats behind home plate.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018On one hand, you never want to give a team extra looks,\u2019\u2019 Taillon said of avoiding a second spring start against the Diamondbacks. \u2018\u2018And then on the other hand, if you execute good pitches, it really shouldn\u2019t matter that much. But I was all on board with doing this and not giving them an extra look.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
With Cubs minor-leaguers on both sides, Taillon faced 12 batters and threw about 55 pitches.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018Today is one of those days I just wanted to push the pitch count and push the intensity a little bit,\u2019\u2019 Taillon said. \u2018\u2018I\u2019m working on a lot of stuff behind the scenes. Then when I\u2019m in a game, even in that environment, I try to kick it out. I did throw a few changeups. Still working on it. Just kind of go out there and get into compete mode.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
The Cubs scratched center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong<\/b> from the lineup because of tightness in his right hamstring. They characterized the move as precautionary.<\/p>\nDiamondbacks 10, Cubs 2<\/h3>\n
Gage Workman<\/b> and Nicky Lopez<\/b> led the Cubs with two hits apiece. Workman also contributed an RBI, and Lopez scored a run. Each qualified as a hometown kid in a different way. Workman is from nearby Chandler, Arizona, and went to school at Arizona State. Lopez is from Naperville and is representing a city team for the second consecutive year after playing for the White Sox last season.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Reliever Tyson Miller<\/b>, who had a 2.15 ERA with the Cubs last season and earned manager Craig Counsell\u2019s<\/b> trust in high-leverage situations, allowed four runs in two-thirds of an inning. His spring ERA ballooned to 27.00.<\/p>\n
\u2022 On deck:<\/b> Padres at Cubs, 2:05 p.m. Tuesday, Mesa, Marquee, Matt Waldron<\/b> vs. Shota Imanaga<\/b>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Taillon threw a simulated game Monday.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":38589,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-38588","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\n