6:17pm: Skipper Craig Counsell tells Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic that Horton will go for imaging this weekend. The crew will know as soon as the outcomes come again, however the righty will land on the 15-day injured listing in any case.
3:56pm: Cubs righty Cade Horton exited in the present day’s begin after calling for a coach within the second inning. The Chicago Tribune’s Meghan Montemurro factors out that Horton’s last pitch was a fastball that clocked in about two miles per hour shy of his season common. Taylor McGregor of the Marquee Sports activities Community provides that the Cubs are calling Horton’s damage proper forearm discomfort.
It’s an ominous growth for a Cubs crew that opened the season with out ace Justin Steele, who continues to be on the mend from final April’s UCL surgical procedure. Horton, 24, was the Nationwide League Rookie of the 12 months runner-up in 2025 after kicking down the door to the majors with a 2.67 ERA in his first 118 huge league frames. The 2022 No. 7 general decide’s 20.4% strikeout charge was a pair proportion factors shy of common, however he offset that with sturdy command (6.9% stroll charge), a median ground-ball charge (42.3%) and a knack for avoiding laborious contact. He’s pitched 7 1/3 innings this season between his debut and in the present day’s abbreviated begin. Opponents have two runs on 4 hits and a stroll.
Clearly, it’s too quickly to say whether or not Horton will miss an prolonged time frame — if he misses any in any respect. Even a short-term IL stint would sting, nonetheless. The remainder of the Chicago rotation consists of Matthew Boyd, Jameson Taillon, Shota Imanaga and commerce acquisition Edward Cabrera. Steele and former first-rounder Jordan Wicks are each on the injured listing already.
Veteran swingman Colin Rea is within the bullpen and will begin within the quick time period if the Cubs want. He stuffed in admirably final yr when accidents piled up on the beginning workers. Rea posted a 4.33 ERA in 27 begins final season and a 0.56 ERA in 16 aid innings. He was supervisor Craig Counsell‘s go-to choice in the present day as properly, taking up after Horton’s exit. Righty Ben Brown labored as a starter in camp and continues to be stretched out for a number of innings as properly; he’s tossed 6 2/3 frames in two appearances this season.
Wanting additional down the depth chart, righty Javier Assad is in Triple-A and already on the 40-man roster. He’s pitched to a 3.43 ERA in 331 main league innings, principally out of the rotation, although accidents restricted him to 55 1/3 innings between Triple-A and the large leagues final yr. Prime prospect Jaxon Wiggins can be in Triple-A however would must be added to the 40-man roster. Veterans Kyle Wright and Vince Velasquez additionally opened the season with the Cubs’ prime affiliate in Des Moines after signing minor league offers within the winter. Both may very well be referred to as upon as short-term replacements, though like Wiggins, they’d must be added to the 40-man roster.
