1 bad start is blurring the numbers of Cubs right-hander Jameson Taillon

Chicago Cubs pitching was rock-solid for the overwhelming majority of Sunday's 11-inning 3-2 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks, but extra innings proved too much for the bullpen to handle, as they allowed runs in both the 10th and 11th frames on a wet afternoon at Wrigley Field.

“When the wind’s blowing in, it gives you a little more confidence to challenge guys,” Cubs starter Jameson Taillon told MLB.com after the game. “Today, there weren’t really that many hard-hit balls deep to the outfield for me -- maybe just pitching with that mindset. It’s kind of a good lesson of, ‘I can pitch over the plate and mix and compete over the big parts of the zone in a smart way.’”

Despite two early rain delays, Taillon more than held his own against the Diamondbacks, tossing five innings of one-run ball, allowing three hits and two walks, striking out six. The start lowered his ERA on the year to 4.73 - but he's actually been far more effective than you might think if you're just glancing at that number and making a snap judgment.

Cubs' Jameson Taillon has been sharp after a stumble in late March

Sunday's strong start was all the more impressive when you consider his one bad start came against this same Arizona ballclub back in late March. In that start, the Diamondbacks torched Taillon for six earned on nine hits - including two home runs - in just 4 1/3 innings of work. Since then, however, the right-hander has pitched at least five innings in every outing and has not allowed more than three earned in any of them.

So looking back over his last four outings, Taillon carries a 3.22 ERA (8 ER in 22 1/3 innings of work) - almost exactly inline with what he delivered in 2024 for Chicago (3.27 ERA in 165 1/3 frames). That's a steadying presence behind Shota Imanaga in the rotation - and his consistency is making it easier to weather the loss of Justin Steele.

Taillon is in the third year of the four-year, $68 million pact he signed with the Cubs prior to the 2023 campaign. He's moved on from a rocky first campaign on the North Side and settled in at a critical time, when the team faces an April gauntlet and one unmistakable goal this season: return to the postseason.