Cubs activate Taillon and place Maton back on the IL with right knee tendinitis

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs activated right-hander Jameson Taillon on Monday and placed reliever Phil Maton back on the 15-day injured list with right knee tendinitis.

Taillon pitched 4 1/3 innings of four-run ball in an 8-6 loss to the Detroit Tigers in 10 innings during the opener of a three-game series. He had been sidelined by a left hamstring strain.

The 34-year-old Taillon also struck out six and walked two in his first big league start since June 7. He threw 46 of his 75 pitches for strikes.

Trent Thornton came in to pitch the 10th for Chicago, but the right-hander was helped off the field after he was struck on his lower left leg by Riley Greene’s 108.9 mph comebacker.

“Trent's got a left heel contusion,” manager Craig Counsell said. “The X-rays were negative. I guess the heel's a little tricky on X-rays, so we'll have to see how he's doing tomorrow. He's limping pretty badly right now.”

Chicago also added Aaron Civale to its 26-man roster two days after it acquired the right-hander in a trade with the Athletics. Left-hander Drew Pomeranz was designated for assignment.

The 33-year-old Maton is 0-1 with a 6.18 ERA in 31 appearances during his first season after signing a $14.5 million, two-year contract with the Cubs in free agency. It's his third IL stint this year for right knee tendinitis.

Maton worked the eighth inning in Sunday's 10-1 victory over Minnesota, allowing one run and two hits.

“Symptoms again yesterday, did an MRI because of the symptoms,” Counsell said before the loss to the Tigers. “And the news is not, it’s not great. We're going to get some more opinions and see what that means. But we’re looking at a little bit more extended absence here.”

Chicago acquired Civale and cash from the A's for minor league right-hander Aiden Moffett on Saturday. Civale also pitched for the Cubs last year, going 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA in five appearances.

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Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jameson Taillon wipes his face during the first inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers in Chicago, Monday, July 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell, center, talks to players after he pulled starting pitcher Jameson Taillon, left, during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers in Chicago, Monday, July 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jameson Taillon throws against the Detroit Tigers during the first inning of a baseball game in Chicago, Monday, July 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Rescue crews in Afghanistan searched Tuesday for survivors and bodies among the rubble of houses destroyed by devastating flash floods that authorities say have killed nearly two dozen people and left more than 100 people missing.

The Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority said Tuesday that 23 people had died, 80 had been injured and more than 100 were missing after floods struck the eastern province of Nuristan on Monday, causing an undetermined number of buildings to collapse. The provincial capital city of Parun was among the areas affected, authorities said.

More extreme weather has been forecast, with heavy rain; thunderstorms; strong winds accompanied by dust and sand; and flash floods predicted in 10 of the country’s 34 provinces, the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation’s meteorology department said Monday evening. The ministry warned residents to avoid riverbanks and other areas at risk of flooding.

Afghanistan is highly vulnerable to extreme weather events, with snow and heavy rain that trigger flash floods, often killing dozens, or even hundreds, of people at a time. In 2024, more than 300 people died in springtime flash floods. Earlier this year, at least 110 people were killed by widespread flooding and landslides in several parts of the country.

Decades of conflict, along with poor infrastructure, a struggling economy, deforestation and the intensifying effects of climate change, have amplified the impact of such disasters, particularly in remote areas where many homes are built of mud and offer limited protection against sudden deluges or heavy snowfall.

Medical workers carry equipment through an area damaged by heavy flooding in the eastern province of Nuristan, Afghanistan, Tuesday, July 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Wahidullah Kakar)

Residents and rescue workers inspect buildings damaged by heavy flooding in the eastern province of Nuristan, Afghanistan, Tuesday, July 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Wahidullah Kakar)

Residents and rescue workers inspect buildings damaged by heavy flooding in the eastern province of Nuristan, Afghanistan, Tuesday, July 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Wahidullah Kakar)

Residents and rescue workers inspect buildings damaged by heavy flooding in the eastern province of Nuristan, Afghanistan, Tuesday, July 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Wahidullah Kakar)

Residents and rescue workers inspect buildings damaged by heavy flooding in the eastern province of Nuristan, Afghanistan, Tuesday, July 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Wahidullah Kakar)