On Sunday, Chicago Cubs pitcher Jameson Taillon made his first start since suffering a left hamstring strain in June. It could be a long time before his next one. 

The Pittsburgh Pirates rocked Taillon in an 8-7 home win over Chicago. The 34-year-old pitcher allowed six hits and seven earned runs (four of which came on a grand slam) in four innings pitched, dropping his starting record to 2-6. 

Following the rough outing in Pittsburgh, Cubs manager Craig Counsell refused to say when Taillon will make his next start. That update spells even more trouble for the pitcher, whose future in Chicago was already highly uncertain before Sunday's start. 

Jameson Taillon's days with Cubs could be numbered after start against Pirates

Taillon, who is in the last year of a four-year, $68M deal with the Cubs, needed a big year to solidify his future with Chicago. He simply hasn't delivered to this point in the season. Before Sunday's game, he had posted a career-worst 5.38 ERA in 72 innings pitched. 

The Cubs could opt to move Taillon out of the starting rotation and mainly use him as a relief pitcher instead. Chicago isn't one of the elite pitching teams in baseball, but its rotation should be strong enough without him. It features ace Shota Imanaga, who has posted a 3.72 ERA in 121 innings pitched this season.

And, of course, the Cubs can fortify their starting rotation before the trade deadline on Aug. 3 at 6 p.m. ET. They should consider targeting Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Kevin Gausman, a two-time All-Star.

Even then, it's unclear if the Cubs can trust Taillon coming out of the bullpen, given how much he has struggled this season. That makes the pitcher's future with Chicago even more uncertain.