'The calm in the storm': Cubs again turn to Jameson Taillon to stave off elimination in NLDS Game 3

Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune on Oct 7, 2025

Published in Baseball

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CHICAGO — Jameson Taillon tends to get super nervous watching games from the dugout.

But once he makes the walk to the outfield on start days to begin warming up, those feelings dissipate and the Chicago Cubs’ veteran right-hander feels locked in. That repetition is a reminder that it’s still the same game, no matter the stakes, when stepping onto the mound.

“I was ready for a moment like that just because I do have things I write in my journal every day that never change,” Taillon said Tuesday. “I have things I focus on every day mechanically that never change. I am focusing on it whether it’s sold out or there’s no one there, it’s a Game 3 or just a spring training game. I’m always focused on the same things and going about my process, which I think helps.”

The Cubs know they face a daunting task in winning three straight games against a Milwaukee Brewers team that finished with the best record in baseball. The mantra since losing Game 2 on Monday at American Family Field has centered on taking it one game at a time. Dwelling on the challenging task and thinking too far ahead is futile.

Nothing matters right now except winning Game 3 of the National League Division Series on Wednesday at Wrigley Field and extending their season another day.

“Win the moment and then move on to the next one, we’re going to have to do it a whole bunch over the course of three games,” manager Craig Counsell said Tuesday. “That’s the challenge, and it’s a big one, and it’s a fun one. But that’s the one in front of us. We get to tackle it tomorrow.”

The Cubs feel good knowing they have Taillon on the mound facing elimination. He’s coming off a win-or-go-home start in Game 3 of the wild-card series in which he tossed two-hit ball in four shutout innings against the San Diego Padres on the heels of posting a 1.57 ERA over his last six regular-season starts. Counsell described Taillon as “the calm in the storm.”

“Every game has a new life, and the Brewers don’t care what I did five days ago,” Taillon said. “I have to go out there and do things the right way again.”

The Brewers are countering with 25-year-old Quinn Priester to start Game 3 for his first postseason appearance. Taillon was still part of the Pirates organization when Pittsburgh selected Priester in the first round of the 2019 draft. Taillon remembers meeting him, calling Priester a great kid and extremely talented.

“It was kind of a matter of when he would find success at this level, not if, he’s got all the tools,” Taillon said. “Watching from afar, he’s a guy who’s easy to root for and I’m happy for him. Unfortunately it’s with the Brewers, but it seems like a great landing spot for him, and he’s a big part of what they’ve done this year.”

Priester, a Cary native and Cary-Grove graduate, has received a bunch of text messages from friends, family, teachers and coaches coming into the series, pointing out how many of them, like himself, grew up Cubs fans.

“That’s just the reality of it, a lot of texts being like, hey, I know I like the Cubs, but we’re rooting for you guys — that’s been fun, it’s just been fun to be able to connect with those people,” Priester said Tuesday. “I’ve been to a World Series game here, so I know how great this crowd can be. Just excited to get out there and compete my butt off against a really good team and hopefully keep the crowd pretty quiet.”

The Cubs have faced Priester three times this year, including tagging him for seven runs in a May 2 blowout win in Milwaukee. In two starts since then, including an outing Priester and manager Pat Murphy described as a turning point in his season, the Cubs managed three runs in 10 innings, though the right-hander also walked seven batters and struck out seven.

Offensively, the Cubs desperately need to get something going. Their 13 consecutive playoff games, dating to 2017, scoring three runs or fewer set a new postseason record, surpassing the Brooklyn Dodgers (12 games between 1916-41). Solving Priester will be a must for a Cubs lineup that has struck out 23 times in two games against Milwaukee.

“Growing up, coming to Wrigley Field all the time, let alone starting a playoff game here, is definitely something that’s really cool. If I would have told my 10-year-old self this, it would be pretty darned cool,” Priester said. “The goal is definitely to compartmentalize those thoughts and just go out there. I’ve always been in my head, ‘hey, let’s just get the next out.’

“I think it’s important to be grateful and to reflect that this is a pretty cool opportunity, but when the head hits the pillow tonight, it’s compartmentalize those feelings and just get ready to go out there and get as many outs as I can tomorrow and compete the way I’ve competed all season and trust my defense.”

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