The Chicago Cubs are in jeopardy of being without one of their top arms on Opening Day as Jameson Taillon is dealing with a lower-back injury.
The veteran missed his start on Saturday, a concerning sign for the Cubs as they enter the season.
Coming into the year, the pitching staff had questions. With the signing of Shota Imanaga, an improved Jordan Wicks, and others, Chicago's rotation looked to be solid.
While Taillon struggled during his first season with the Cubs, the expectation was for him to bounce back in a big way. If he could give them similar innings as a fourth or fifth starter to what he did with the New York Yankees, the rotation had a chance to be one of the top in the National League Central.
This injury does bring some concern to the rest of the rotation, however. Despite the added depth, injuries aren't something Chicago can deal with. The back end of the rotation is inexperienced, and at this point, hasn't shown the ability to be legitimate arms at the big league level.
Of course, that can change with this opportunity they'll get, but it's not a guarantee.
Wicks or Javier Assad will likely get the opportunity to pitch, which could give the rotation three left-handed starting pitchers.
Craig Counsell was asked if he would factor in handedness given the team already has two left-handed pitchers in Imanaga and Justin Steele, saying it wouldn't be an issue, according to Jordan Bastian of MLB.com.
"I think of it as, 'Who are the best people to get hitters out?' It doesn't have anything to do with [being] left-handed or right-handed. Who's going to get people out the best? That's who's going to pitch."
Counsell has a tough decision to make, and hopefully, a short-term one.
More must-reads: