Well, he is ready, and the Cubs are approaching their situation with injured rookie pitcher Cade Horton (fractured rib) as if he will be taking the mound again after he is eligible to come off the injured reserve, which would be Friday.
There are some minor inconveniences between now and then, however. One of those is the pesky fact that the Cubs will face the Brewers on Wednesday evening with the season on the line, trailing Milwaukee, 2-0, in their divisional-round series. Cubs faithful might feel better about things if the team had shown a bit more competitiveness in the first two games, but being outscored, 16-6 combined, has tempered enthusiasm as the series shifts to Wrigley.
But if, somehow, the Cubs can win Game 3 and scratch out another win in Game 4, the prospect of getting Horton on the mound for a decisive Game 5 looms. It’s a slender hope, and it could only happen if the Cubs suffer an injury (Horton can’t be added to the roster in the middle of a series unless there is an injury), but a dramatic finale in Milwaukee with Horton on the hill remains.
Cade Horton: ‘I Am Pain-Free’
Horton spoke to reporters on Tuesday just before he was to throw a bullpen session that would precede him getting back on the mound. And he said what every Cubs fan wants to hear: The rib doesn’t hurt too much.
“At this moment, yeah, I am pain-free. Just really trying not to still push it. But yeah, for right now, I am feeling good,” Horton said.
Horton was 11-4 with a 2.67 ERA this season, numbers he posted despite a slow start–he was 3-3 with a 4.44 ERA after his first 11 starts. From there, he went 8-1 with a 1.03 ERA, until he suffered the injury on September 23.
Cubs Approaching Playoffs as if Cade Horton Will Pitch
He’s been doing what it takes to get ready and is operating under the assumption he will pitch in October, despite the long odds. “That’s the plan, so far,” he said.
Horton added: “I have been throwing off my knees and that did not seem to bother it. So, I did that for a couple days and then, you know, once I started to feel good, I started to play light catch. It just progressed from there, and everything has been smooth. So just going from there.”
Cubs Need to Regroup in Game 3
In the meantime, the Cubs will rely on Jameson Taillon to hurl in Game 3 and keep the season alive. Taillon battled through an injury-plagued season to go 11-8 with a 3.78 ERA. Horton can’t do much to help, but he is at least trying to be a good teammate.
“That’s the only option,” he said. “I want to contribute to the team but I can’t do that, so I have to be a cheerleader. I would have loved to be out there but unfortunately, that’s not the case. …
“It sucks but just trying to be the best teammate I can and have fun watching the guys. But we’ve still got some baseball to play. So, yeah. Just one day at a time and being the best teammate I can be.”
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