This wasn’t the playoff experience Cubs rookie right-hander Cade Horton had imagined down the stretch, when he accepted a pitch limit with the belief that it would set him up for a deep playoff run.
He couldn’t have predicted then that a persistent cough would lead to a fractured rib that would sideline him for the first two rounds of the postseason.
‘‘Absolutely,’’ Horton said when he was asked Tuesday whether he expected to be available for the National League Championship Series if the Cubs get there. ‘‘That’s the plan so far. That’s why we’re getting on the mound today and progressing like normal.’’
During the Cubs’ workout day Tuesday at Wrigley Field, as the best-of-five NL Division Series shifted from Milwaukee to Chicago, Horton threw off the mound for the first time since landing on the injured list a week and a half ago. The 15-pitch light bullpen session didn’t raise any alarm bells.
The odds are, however, that the Cubs won’t be playing long enough for Horton to get his postseason moment. They would need to win three consecutive games against the Brewers to move on.
Horton, who had as good a second half as any major-league starting pitcher, steadied the Cubs’ rotation down the stretch to help them lock up the top wild card in the NL. Before the injury, he was expected to play a high-profile role in the postseason.
‘‘Cade comes up from Triple-A and is a difference-maker, not just on the field but off the field, jelling with the group, being a great teammate,’’ said right-hander Jameson Taillon, the Cubs’ Game 3 starter. ‘‘When we put him on the IL, he was pretty emotional about it. Understandably so. He wants to be out there. . . . I would love nothing more than to give him a chance to pitch again.’’
The Cubs’ rotation has been noticeably short in the postseason. The team decided to start left-hander Matthew Boyd on short rest in Game 1 of the NLDS. And if the Cubs extend the series past Wednesday, they’ll have to decide how much they trust Boyd and left-hander Shota Imanaga after they each tossed duds in the first two games of the series.
It would have been helpful to have a top Rookie of the Year candidate in that mix.
‘‘It sucks,’’ Horton said of being sidelined. ‘‘But just trying to be the best teammate I can. And it’s been fun watching the guys. We’ve still got some baseball to play.’’
Returning to Wrigley
After two brutal losses at American Family Field, the Cubs return to the Friendly Confines for Game 3 and an if-necessary Game 4.
The change of scenery might not help in a series in which the Cubs have been outmatched by the Brewers, but they could use any little edge.
‘‘Wrigley was incredible,’’ Taillon said of the atmosphere in the wild-card series against the Padres. ‘‘I’m happy that we’re back here and have a chance to play in front of these fans again.
‘‘I know Wrigley and the city of Chicago was hungry for playoff baseball. You could feel it.’’
Live batting practice
The Cubs took live batting practice, providing an opportunity for bench and taxi-squad players to get game-like reps. Participating pitchers included Javier Assad, Jordan Wicks, Ryan Brasier and Porter Hodge.
Outfielder Owen Caissie, who finished the season on the seven-day concussion list, was among the hitters who stood in.
