17 Home Runs Allowed: Jameson Taillon Is Leading MLB In Bombs and the Cubs Are Getting Absolutely Demolished

You guys, what is even happening out there?! The Chicago Cubs are in an absolute freefall, riding their longest losing streak in nearly four years with a brutal 10 straight L's. And guess what? They’re staring down the barrel of an 11-game skid for the first time since way back in August 2021. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh’s Bubba Chandler is fighting to stop his own slide, losing his last four decisions heading into tonight's matchup. This one is going to be wild.

Chandler's Roller Coaster: From Career High to "What Now?"

Bubba Chandler has had a season that's just... a lot. His record sits at a rough 1-6 with a 4.79 ERA, but if you saw him last Friday against Toronto, you know there's something there. He absolutely came out swinging, striking out a career-high 11 batters! He touched 99.3 mph on his fastball and attacked the zone like we've been begging for. Dude threw 99 pitches over five innings. The Pirates still lost 6-2, and he walked three while giving up three unearned runs on two hits, but still, 11 Ks!

Before that, against the Phillies, he got shelled for five runs, four of 'em earned, in just three innings during a 6-0 defeat. Talk about a whiplash. Chandler’s only played the Cubs once, back on April 12, where he got a no-decision, giving up three runs on five hits, including two dingers. He said it himself: "I think each outing has gotten better. It's learning, but I think it's my job to go out there and compose myself, and go out there and get through a lineup three, four times." If he can find that consistency, with guys like Braxton Ashcraft, Paul Skenes, and Mitch Keller already killing it, the Pirates rotation could be seriously deep.

Taillon's Nightmare: Bombs Away and No Answers

Okay, if you thought Chandler had it rough, buckle up for Jameson Taillon. This dude is having an absolute nightmare of a season, clocking in at 2-4 with a 5.20 ERA. But here's the kicker, the stat that should make every Cubs fan hide under their bed: Taillon has given up 17 home runs this season. SEVENTEEN! That leads the ENTIRE majors. You gotta be kidding me.

His last two starts? Forget about it. He's coughed up 12 runs and 16 hits, including SIX home runs, in just 9 2/3 innings. Last Friday against the Astros, he allowed four runs on eight hits in less than five innings. He knows it too: "We lost, and I didn't complete five innings, so not good enough. The game's a little hard right now for a lot of us. When the game punches you a little bit, you've got to punch back and find a way." He faced the Pirates on April 12 too, giving up six runs on six hits, including three homers, even though he struck out 10. The Cubs are historically weird this year too, according to Elias Sports Bureau, joining only the 2017 Dodgers to have two 10-game winning streaks and a 10-game losing streak in the same season. Wild stuff.

So, tonight, it's all on the line in Pittsburgh. Can Chandler finally put together back-to-back strong outings and grab a W, or will Taillon find a way to stop the bleeding and avoid giving up more moonshots? The Cubs are desperate to snap this brutal 10-game skid. Get ready, this one's going to be tense!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.