Chicago Cubs Ace Leaves Start Early

Cade Horton left the Chicago Cubs’ game last night against the New York Mets after pitching just three innings. The rookie sensation allowed just one run but left the game with what the team is calling back tightness. The team’s Manager, Craig Counsell, said that taking Horton out of the game was a precautionary move. Horton is not expected to make another start in the regular season as the Chicago Cubs prepare for the start of the postseason next week.

Horton was reportedly sick leading up to his start last night, which could’ve contributed to the back tightness. While the San Diego Padres are closing the gap on the Chicago Cubs for the top seed in the NL Wild Card race, the Cubs determined that risking Horton last night was not worth the risk of not having him for the Wild Card series next week. The decision came back to haunt Chicago for last night’s game, as the overworked Cubs bullpen collapsed and the Mets won the ball game by a score of 9-7.

Cade Horton Leaves Start With Back Tightness

The Chicago Cubs fell to the New York Mets last night, 9-7. The bullpen collapsed and opened the door for the Mets to hand the Cubs their fifth consecutive loss. The loss is concerning for Counsell’s bunch as the San Diego Padres picked up another game on Chicago, closing the gap in the race for home field in the NL Wild Card round three-game series next week. The loss could’ve come at a steeper price, though, as the Cubs’ rookie ace Cade Horton left the game after three innings as a precautionary move.

Horton was dealing with back tightness, and Counsell said that the tightness wasn’t excessive, just strenuous enough to raise some concerns and take the 24-year-old out of the ball game. Counsell said after the game that illness leading up to the start could’ve played a big role in contributing to the back tightness. When speaking to the media postgame, Counsell said, “Cade was sick this week. We’ve had a couple guys sick and he was coughing a lot. He noticed the symptoms on Sunday, Monday-ish… and it just started to tighten up a little bit, so we pulled the plug on it.”

Counsell tried to assuage concerns around the image of the Chicago Cubs’ hottest pitcher leaving the game early with the start of the postseason around the corner. “He just had symptoms on deep breaths. That’s what we feel like it probably is. We want to be extra careful.” The caution Counsell and the team are using with Horton is with the vision that the right-hander can start a game next week in Chicago’s best-of-three Wild Card series.

Chicago Cubs Ace Comments On Injury

Counsell’s decision to make sure Horton is as healthy as possible for next week’s start to the postseason was understood by the breakout ace. Speaking to the media postgame, Horton said, “In between innings, my breath started to bother me. I just wanted to get on top of it early while we have time, rather than keep going and potentially harm the next start. The breathing started to play a factor. Everything started to tighten up. I just did not want to jeopardize next week. “(We) just wanted to get on top of it early, while we have time, rather than keep going and potentially harm the next start. That’s why we made the move we did tonight.”

Horton did his best to downplay the extent of the injury, telling reporters that in the moment, he wanted to stay in the game and that he could’ve stayed in the game if it really came down to it. If Tuesday night’s contest was a playoff game, Horton said he “absolutely” would’ve stayed in the game. The big question is whether or not Horton will be over his illness by next week’s start to the postseason, and if that will help get rid of the back tightness that caused the team to take Horton out of last night’s game.

Final Thoughts

Tuesday night’s loss could come back to bite the Chicago Cubs if the San Diego Padres overtake them in the NL Wild Card standings and gain home-field advantage for next week’s Wild Card series. The calculus from Counsell is that having his three-man rotation of Cade Horton, Shota Imanaga, and Matthew Boyd intact for that series is more valuable than doing everything he can to ensure that that series is played at Wrigley Field. Horton’s next start is expected to be Game 1 of that series, and after leaving this start early, he will be well-rested and ready to roll for the Chicago Cubs