The Toronto Blue Jays right-hander was pulled two innings into his first game back from the injured list, throwing only 29 pitches against the Kansas City Royals on Friday.
The 34-year-old looked to be strained after a few pitches in the second inning, and though he completed the frame, he was replaced by reliever Joe Mantiply in the bottom of the third.
He finished his outing with one earned run — a homer from Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. — on two hits with one strikeout.
Taillon was reinstated from the 15-day injured list ahead of Friday’s showdown, having been sidelined since Aug. 11 with right forearm tendinitis.
Acquired from the Chicago Cubs ahead of this year’s trade deadline, Taillon had made two starts for the Blue Jays before suffering the initial injury. In those two outings, the Canadian-American dual-citizen posted a 3.38 ERA with seven strikeouts and five walks in eight innings.
Before the trade, he recorded a 5.92 ERA over 15 starts before being designated for assignment by the Cubs.