For Cubs P Jameson Taillon, road to success starts vs. Guardians

Jameson Taillon's first season with the Chicago Cubs continues to be a struggle.

It could get even more frustrating if the Cleveland Guardians' offense shows up on Sunday -- as it did in the middle contest of the weekend's three-game set at Chicago -- when Taillon will look to avoid losing his third straight start.

One of Chicago's biggest offseason signings at four years and $68 million, Taillon (2-6, 6.90 ERA) is still searching for some consistency with his new team. The veteran right-hander had an 8.04 ERA through May, then was 2-1 with a 4.24 ERA through his first three starts of June to build some confidence.

However, he has allowed nine runs and 15 hits over 10 1/3 innings in his past two starts -- both losses -- since then. He gave up five of those runs, and seven hits, in five innings of a 5-1 home loss to Philadelphia on Tuesday.

"I feel like I've just been repetitive, probably," Taillon said. "It just felt like another one of those nights."

Taillon will hope he doesn't have another rough outing at Wrigley Field, where he's 1-4 with a 7.44 ERA in seven starts this season. He's 1-2 with a 3.94 ERA during his career against Cleveland, which rebounded from Friday's 10-1 series-opening defeat to win 6-0 on Saturday.

A Cleveland offense that ranks 27th in the majors, averaging 4.0 runs per game, put the pressure on Cubs ace Marcus Stroman on Saturday.

Amed Rosario had two RBIs and is batting .344 with seven runs driven home in his last 15 contests. With two hits Saturday, Cleveland star Jose Ramirez is hitting .398 with seven home runs and 22 RBIs in his last 21 games. However, he's 1-for-7 against Taillon.

Scheduled Cleveland starter Aaron Civale (2-2, 3.18 ERA) went 1-1 with a 3.33 ERA in five June starts since returning from missing nearly two months with an oblique strain. Though the right-hander went six innings against Milwaukee in his most recent start last Sunday, he matched a season high with four runs allowed, plus six hits given up, in his team's 5-4, 10-inning defeat.

Despite that outcome, Civale remains confident in the state of his pitching entering July.

"I feel like the stuff has been good," he said, adding he will "focus on executing and minimizing the pitches that aren't executed."

Civale has been solid while allowing two runs and 10 hits over 10 2/3 innings in his two career starts against the Cubs. And he's hitting Chicago at a good time. The Cubs have scored one or no runs three times while losing five of their past six games following an 11-2 stretch.

The Cubs were shut out for the fourth time this season on Saturday.

However, Cody Bellinger had three of the five hits in that loss for Chicago and is batting .440 (11-for-25) with two doubles and four runs in his past seven games.

Meanwhile, teammate Seiya Suzuki, who has been dealing with a stiff neck this week, is 0-for-16 with four strikeouts in his last four contests.

Chicago's Trey Mancini is 4-for-6 with a double vs. Civale.