<p>DENVER — <b>Jameson Taillon’</b>s hamstring injury is bad enough to paint another potentially worrisome picture for the Cubs in terms of their starting pitching.</p><p>Already without right-hander <b>Cade Horton </b>for the rest of the season and still waiting on an end to the extended absence of lefty <b>Justin Steele</b>, the Cubs now expect to be without the veteran right-hander Taillon for the remainder of the first half.</p><p>Taillon <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/2026/06/07/cubs-righty-jameson-taillon-forced-to-leave-game-vs-giants-in-2nd-inning-with-strained-left-hamstring" >made an early exit from Sunday’s loss to the Giants</a>, limping off the field and down the dugout steps into the clubhouse. Though an injured-list trip was expected, the imaging Taillon underwent Monday revealed a left hamstring strain that manager <b>Craig Counsell</b> described as “moderate.” He’ll be out until after the All-Star break.</p><p>So what’s next?</p><p>It’s more of the same for these Cubs, who have dealt with one starting-pitching injury after another through the first three months of the campaign.</p><p>In addition to the aforementioned absences, lefty <b>Matthew Boyd</b> has only made five starts this season, out since early May as he’s recovered from knee surgery. Righty <b>Edward Cabrera</b> missed time with a blister, returning just Friday – and <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/06/05/cubs-starter-edward-cabrera-gives-up-eight-runs-in-return-from-injury" >was scorched for eight runs against the Giants</a>.</p><p>The Cubs have received a breakout effort from righty <b>Ben Brown</b>, who’s been <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/06/04/cubs-ben-brown-all-star-game-pitching-stats-league-leaders-miguel-amaya-dansby-swanson-colin-rea" >the team’s best pitcher and their best All-Star choice</a> to this point.