<p>It would have been easy to think silly thoughts and let the Mets’ losing streak get into his head. But Cubs right-hander <b>Jameson Taillon</b> wouldn’t allow it on his drive Saturday to Wrigley Field.</p><p>‘‘I wasn’t going to fall into the trap of thinking this was a bad team or a struggling team,’’ Taillon said. ‘‘You look at the names up and down the lineup, I came in here not wanting to be the reason they got hot. I had that conversation with myself.’’</p><p>Taillon yielded one run and five hits, struck out four and walked three in six innings and was the winning pitcher in the Cubs’ 4-2 victory, thanks to a three-run home run by pinch hitter <b>Carson Kelly</b> in the sixth. The performance lowered his ERA to a respectable 3.97.</p><p>‘‘We’re trending in the right direction,’’ Taillon said. ‘‘I’m still not throwing as many strikes as I’d like, and there were some uncompetitive curveballs, stuff like that. But today was a really good step. I thought the stuff was crispy. The four-seam [fastball] had better carry, and the sweeper got better as we went.’’</p><h3>Martin next man up in pen</h3><p>The Cubs selected right-hander <b>Corbin Martin’s</b> contract from Triple-A Iowa to take closer <b>Daniel Palencia’s</b> spot on the active roster. Palencia (strained left oblique) was the 10th Cubs pitcher added to a burgeoning injured list Friday.</p><p>Right-hander <b>Cade Horton</b>, who had the makings of a staff ace, was moved to the 60-day IL to open a spot on the 40-man roster for Martin. Horton had Tommy John surgery Thursday.</p><p>The Cubs signed Martin, 30, to a minor-league deal for depth during the offseason. In parts of four seasons, he has a 6.54 ERA in 742⁄3 innings with the Astros, Diamondbacks and Orioles.</p><p>Martin is out of minor-league options and would be exposed to waivers if the Cubs try returning him to Iowa.</p><p>Martin, who had Tommy John surgery in 2020 and surgery to repair a lat tendon in 2023, dealt with back spasms after pitching in Iowa’s opener and was out for two weeks before pitching again Tuesday. He allowed one earned run in two innings.</p><p>He pitched in eight games during spring training, allowing six earned runs in 72⁄3 innings with 10 strikeouts and five walks.</p><p>‘‘He pitched two innings in Iowa, so this is need-based,’’ manager <b>Craig Counsell</b> said.</p><p><b>Jacob Webb</b>, <b>Ben Brown</b> and Martin are the only right-handers in the bullpen.</p><p>‘‘We’ve had a lot of needs, and we wanted to get a right-hander here, frankly,’’ Counsell said. ‘‘Ideally, he would have pitched more in Iowa after the back injury, but we have a need.’’</p><h3>PCA not moping</h3><p>Center fielder <b>Pete Crow-Armstrong</b> seems to be keeping his frustration over a .218/.265/.282 batting line to himself. Perhaps playing with multiple stars at the World Baseball Classic helped.</p><p>‘‘The WBC was a great experience for Pete in that regard,’’ Counsell said. ‘‘Being around those guys made him understand who he can aspire to be. I see he’s improving at it.’’</p><p>But Counsell said he doesn’t want Crow-Armstrong to be anything other than himself, which is someone who plays with his hair on fire.</p><p>‘‘There is a lot of good in that we don’t want to acknowledge, and that’s sometimes hard to understand,’’ Counsell said. ‘‘He needs to play with emotion, and we should not try to take that out of him. We should try to get it going in the right direction. It’s too much fun to watch.’’</p><bsp-listcarousel class="PageListE" data-module data-column-count=3 data-hide-authors="true" data-hide-categories="true" data-hide-dates="true" data-hide-descriptions="true" data-show-loadmore="true" ><a class="AnchorLink" id="list-c90005" name="list-c90005"></a><div class="PageList-header" > <div class="PageList-header-title-wrap" > <div class="PageList-header-title"> <a class="" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs" target="{borderColor=#dfdfdf, pageNumber=1, titleUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs, inverseColors=false, footerBgColor=#000000, title=Latest on the Cubs, bodyFont=font-3, showListNumbers=false, imagePositionHorizontal=null, rteBodyFont=font-3, headerBottomBorderColor=#111010, subTitle=null, stickyHeader=true, listTitleColor=#000000, tableCellBorderColor=#ccd1d5, relatedListFont=font-1, hideAuthors=true, tertiaryTextColor=#6c6c6c, buttonHoverTextColor=#ffffff, tableFont=font-1, carouselAutoPlay=false, promoTitleFont=font-2, ctaButtonText=[], primaryTextColor=#2a2a2a, buttonTextColor=#ffffff, linkTextColor=#1a1a1a, hideTitles=false, footerLinkColor=#ffffff, carouselSpeed=null, buttonHoverBgColor=#a91d23, rteHeadingFont=font-1, secondaryColor=#656565, count=13845, hideCategories=true, _template=/page/list/includes/PageList-header.hbs, font3=Arial, font4=Source-serif-4, ctaUrl=null, pagination=[{body=[Next Page], href=?p=2, _template=/link/Link.hbs, contentId=null, pianoSectionSlug=null, target=null}], hideImage=false, pullQuoteIcon=[{image=null, narrowImage=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, alt=null}], footerLinkHoverColor=#d3242c, _styledTemplate=/page/list/PageListE.hbs, hideAudioPlayback=false, description=[], listColumns234=null, showSecondItemMedia=false, footerTextColor=#ffffff, hideDescriptions=true, headerSecondaryBgColor=#000000, primaryTextColorInverse=#ffffff, titleColor=null, ampLink=null, listHeaderPosition=null, showActionBar=true, linkHoverColor=#d3242c, buttonBgColor=#d3242c, ctaTarget=null, suppressPagination=false, promoButtonText=null, backgroundColor=null, headerSecondaryTextColor=#ffffff, anchorId=list-c90005, pageCount=4615, listTitleFont=font-2, headlineFont=font-1, promoDescriptionFont=font-3, primaryColor=#d3242c, slimFooter=false, hideHeadline=false, hideDates=true, headerBorderColor=#e9e9e9, ratingCardFont=font-1, titleTarget=null, tableCaptionColor=#626262, items=[{type=Image, category=[{items=[Cubs]}], categoryUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs, _styledTemplate=null, imageAlignment=null, isFeatured=false, timestamp=1776555678000, target=null, primaryMediaType=null, wordCount=597, media=[{narrowImage={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/59/56/aa91d7b7453ab88413299e57b19c/mets-cubs-baseball.jpg, width=7968, height=5312}, image={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/59/56/aa91d7b7453ab88413299e57b19c/mets-cubs-baseball.jpg, width=7968, height=5312}, ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, alt=Mets Cubs Baseball}], url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/04/18/carson-kelly-moises-ballesteros-craig-counsell-brooks-raley-matt-shaw-ian-happ-freddy-peralta-jameson-taillon-ben-brown-caleb-thielbar, ampLink=null, anchorId=promo-860000, authors=[{name=[{items=[Daryl Van Schouwen]}], ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/author/byline/AuthorByline.hbs, authorPageUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/daryl-van-schouwen, bio=[{items=[Daryl Van Schouwen spent 37 years at the Chicago Sun-Times, and covered the Chicago White Sox as a staff reporter for 15 seasons before his departure in 2025.]}], media=[{alt=DarylVanSchouwen-01.JPG, ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, narrowImage={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/35/83/536ae54f47e89dafec8a9c9d0015/darylvanschouwen-01.JPG, width=7030, height=4689}, image={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/35/83/536ae54f47e89dafec8a9c9d0015/darylvanschouwen-01.JPG, width=7030, height=4689}}], jobTitle=[{items=[Former staff reporter, White Sox]}]}], audio=[], audioDuration=null, _template=/page/promo/PagePromo.hbs, description=[{items=[Manager Craig Counsell called on Kelly to pinch-hit for Moises Ballesteros for the righty vs. lefty matchup he preferred, and Kelly was ready, launching the first pitch into the Wrigley Field bleachers.]}], publishDate=April 18, 2026 06:41 PM, title=Carson Kelly's pinch-hit, 3-run HR sends Cubs to 4th consecutive victory}, {type=Image, publishDate=April 18, 2026 04:57 PM, category=[{items=[White Sox]}], timestamp=1776549447000, _styledTemplate=null, imageAlignment=null, categoryUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox, isFeatured=false, target=null, primaryMediaType=null, description=[{items=[Where has Robert’s All-Star talent gone? The Mets haven’t really seen it yet, much as the White Sox didn’t really see it after his 38-homer season in 2023.]}], media=[{alt=New York Mets v Los Angeles Dodgers, ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, narrowImage={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/01/93/c08d7ca04114854a77564beb60db/2271356163.jpg, width=5365, height=3577}, image={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/01/93/c08d7ca04114854a77564beb60db/2271356163.jpg, width=5365, height=3577}}], anchorId=promo-860001, wordCount=881, ampLink=null, url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/04/18/luis-robert-jr-new-york-mets-chicago-white-sox-mlb-all-star, authors=[{authorPageUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/steve-greenberg, bio=[{items=[Steve Greenberg is a sports columnist at the Chicago Sun-Times.]}], media=[{ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, alt=258097893_10227367806079844_1724022405929237952_n.jpg, image={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/11/58/fc94fb4e49bebd891825a398c8d4/258097893-10227367806079844-1724022405929237952-n.jpg, width=750, height=750}, narrowImage={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/11/58/fc94fb4e49bebd891825a398c8d4/258097893-10227367806079844-1724022405929237952-n.jpg, width=750, height=750}}], ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/author/byline/AuthorByline.hbs, jobTitle=[{items=[Reporter/columnist, sports]}], name=[{items=[Steve Greenberg]}]}], audio=[], title=Luis Robert Jr. — once the 'next Mike Trout' — just trying to get to 'pretty good' with struggling Mets, audioDuration=null, _template=/page/promo/PagePromo.hbs}, {type=Image, wordCount=677, categoryUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs, description=[{items=[Hoerner wouldn’t be the first player whose numbers were affected by new money. But it’s certainly not making him complacent, and there are no signs of him succumbing to pressure to perform better.]}], _styledTemplate=null, title=Cubs' Nico Hoerner doesn't feel pressure of new contract, media=[{narrowImage={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/3c/f6/bd5c89c7416297e7dc198857a9b0/ap26107686178706.jpg, width=5450, height=3633}, image={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/3c/f6/bd5c89c7416297e7dc198857a9b0/ap26107686178706.jpg, width=5450, height=3633}, ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, alt=The Cubs' Nico Hoerner runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the second inning against the New York Mets on Friday, April 17, 2026, at Wrigley Field. }], imageAlignment=null, isFeatured=false, category=[{items=[Cubs]}], target=null, primaryMediaType=null, url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/04/17/cubs-nico-hoerner-pressure-of-new-contract-mets, authors=[{name=[{items=[Daryl Van Schouwen]}], ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/author/byline/AuthorByline.hbs, authorPageUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/daryl-van-schouwen, bio=[{items=[Daryl Van Schouwen spent 37 years at the Chicago Sun-Times, and covered the Chicago White Sox as a staff reporter for 15 seasons before his departure in 2025.]}], media=[{alt=DarylVanSchouwen-01.JPG, ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, narrowImage={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/35/83/536ae54f47e89dafec8a9c9d0015/darylvanschouwen-01.JPG, width=7030, height=4689}, image={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/35/83/536ae54f47e89dafec8a9c9d0015/darylvanschouwen-01.JPG, width=7030, height=4689}}], jobTitle=[{items=[Former staff reporter, White Sox]}]}], ampLink=null, anchorId=promo-860002, audio=[], audioDuration=null, timestamp=1776468511000, publishDate=April 17, 2026 06:28 PM, _template=/page/promo/PagePromo.hbs}], mobileCarousel=false, tableEvenRowsBgColor=#f9f8f3, containerTitleFont=font-2, listBorderColor=#dfdfdf, defaultArticleLeadStyle=standard, _parentFiles=[/page/list/includes/PageList-header.hbs]}">Latest on the Cubs</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="PageListE-items"> <div class="PageListE-items-item"> <div class="PagePromoB"data-align-top> <div class="PagePromo-media"><a class="Link" aria-label="Carson Kelly's pinch-hit, 3-run HR sends Cubs to 4th consecutive victory" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/04/18/carson-kelly-moises-ballesteros-craig-counsell-brooks-raley-matt-shaw-ian-happ-freddy-peralta-jameson-taillon-ben-brown-caleb-thielbar" ><picture data-crop="medium-4x3"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="328" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/316a76c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7936x5312+32+0/resize/490x328!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F59%2F56%2Faa91d7b7453ab88413299e57b19c%2Fmets-cubs-baseball.jpg"/> <source width="490" height="328" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4fe79e0/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7936x5312+32+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F59%2F56%2Faa91d7b7453ab88413299e57b19c%2Fmets-cubs-baseball.jpg"/> <img class="Image" alt="Mets Cubs Baseball" width="490" height="328" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4fe79e0/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7936x5312+32+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F59%2F56%2Faa91d7b7453ab88413299e57b19c%2Fmets-cubs-baseball.jpg"> </picture> </a></div> <div class="PagePromoB-content"> <div class="PagePromo-category"> <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs" >Cubs</a> </div> <div class="PagePromo-title"> <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/04/18/carson-kelly-moises-ballesteros-craig-counsell-brooks-raley-matt-shaw-ian-happ-freddy-peralta-jameson-taillon-ben-brown-caleb-thielbar" >Carson Kelly's pinch-hit, 3-run HR sends Cubs to 4th consecutive victory</a> </div> <div class="PagePromo-description">Manager Craig Counsell called on Kelly to pinch-hit for Moises Ballesteros for the righty vs. lefty matchup he preferred, and Kelly was ready, launching the first pitch into the Wrigley Field bleachers.</div> <div class="PagePromo-byline"><div class="PagePromo-date"> <bsp-timestamp data-timestamp=1776555678000 data-promo="true"> <template data-date-tpl>[month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]</template> <span data-date> </span> </bsp-timestamp><span class="dot"></span></div> <div class="PagePromo-author"> <span>By </span><strong><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/daryl-van-schouwen" >Daryl Van Schouwen </a></strong> </div> <div class="PagePromo-readingTime"> <span class="dot-divider"></span> <svg class="PagePromo-readingTime-icon"> <use xlink:href="#icon-clock-reading"></use> </svg> <span class="PagePromo-readingTime-text"> <bsp-time-to-read data-article-word-count="597"></bsp-time-to-read> read </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="PageListE-items-item"> <div class="PagePromoB"data-align-top> <div class="PagePromo-media"><a class="Link" aria-label="Luis Robert Jr. — once the 'next Mike Trout' — just trying to get to 'pretty good' with struggling Mets" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/04/18/luis-robert-jr-new-york-mets-chicago-white-sox-mlb-all-star" ><picture data-crop="medium-4x3"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="328" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/605b544/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5344x3577+11+0/resize/490x328!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F01%2F93%2Fc08d7ca04114854a77564beb60db%2F2271356163.jpg"/> <source width="490" height="328" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8bb731b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5344x3577+11+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F01%2F93%2Fc08d7ca04114854a77564beb60db%2F2271356163.jpg"/> <img class="Image" alt="New York Mets v Los Angeles Dodgers" width="490" height="328" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8bb731b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5344x3577+11+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F01%2F93%2Fc08d7ca04114854a77564beb60db%2F2271356163.jpg"> </picture> </a></div> <div class="PagePromoB-content"> <div class="PagePromo-category"> <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox" >White Sox</a> </div> <div class="PagePromo-title"> <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/white-sox/2026/04/18/luis-robert-jr-new-york-mets-chicago-white-sox-mlb-all-star" >Luis Robert Jr. — once the 'next Mike Trout' — just trying to get to 'pretty good' with struggling Mets</a> </div> <div class="PagePromo-description">Where has Robert’s All-Star talent gone? The Mets haven’t really seen it yet, much as the White Sox didn’t really see it after his 38-homer season in 2023.</div> <div class="PagePromo-byline"><div class="PagePromo-date"> <bsp-timestamp data-timestamp=1776549447000 data-promo="true"> <template data-date-tpl>[month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]</template> <span data-date> </span> </bsp-timestamp><span class="dot"></span></div> <div class="PagePromo-author"> <span>By </span><strong><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/steve-greenberg" >Steve Greenberg </a></strong> </div> <div class="PagePromo-readingTime"> <span class="dot-divider"></span> <svg class="PagePromo-readingTime-icon"> <use xlink:href="#icon-clock-reading"></use> </svg> <span class="PagePromo-readingTime-text"> <bsp-time-to-read data-article-word-count="881"></bsp-time-to-read> read </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="PageListE-items-item"> <div class="PagePromoB"data-align-top> <div class="PagePromo-media"><a class="Link" aria-label="Cubs' Nico Hoerner doesn't feel pressure of new contract" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/04/17/cubs-nico-hoerner-pressure-of-new-contract-mets" ><picture data-crop="medium-4x3"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="328" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/0b91810/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5427x3633+0+0/resize/490x328!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F3c%2Ff6%2Fbd5c89c7416297e7dc198857a9b0%2Fap26107686178706.jpg"/> <source width="490" height="328" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4e3d08c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5427x3633+0+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F3c%2Ff6%2Fbd5c89c7416297e7dc198857a9b0%2Fap26107686178706.jpg"/> <img class="Image" alt="The Cubs' Nico Hoerner runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the second inning against the New York Mets on Friday, April 17, 2026, at Wrigley Field. " width="490" height="328" src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4e3d08c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5427x3633+0+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F3c%2Ff6%2Fbd5c89c7416297e7dc198857a9b0%2Fap26107686178706.jpg"> </picture> </a></div> <div class="PagePromoB-content"> <div class="PagePromo-category"> <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs" >Cubs</a> </div> <div class="PagePromo-title"> <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/04/17/cubs-nico-hoerner-pressure-of-new-contract-mets" >Cubs' Nico Hoerner doesn't feel pressure of new contract</a> </div> <div class="PagePromo-description">Hoerner wouldn’t be the first player whose numbers were affected by new money. But it’s certainly not making him complacent, and there are no signs of him succumbing to pressure to perform better.</div> <div class="PagePromo-byline"><div class="PagePromo-date"> <bsp-timestamp data-timestamp=1776468511000 data-promo="true"> <template data-date-tpl>[month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]</template> <span data-date> </span> </bsp-timestamp><span class="dot"></span></div> <div class="PagePromo-author"> <span>By </span><strong><a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/daryl-van-schouwen" >Daryl Van Schouwen </a></strong> </div> <div class="PagePromo-readingTime"> <span class="dot-divider"></span> <svg class="PagePromo-readingTime-icon"> <use xlink:href="#icon-clock-reading"></use> </svg> <span class="PagePromo-readingTime-text"> <bsp-time-to-read data-article-word-count="677"></bsp-time-to-read> read </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </bsp-listcarousel><p></p>
Jameson Taillon doesn't discount struggling Mets, then holds them to one run in six innings
