This wasn’t the playoff experience Cubs rookie 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 Tuesday when asked if he expected to be available for the National League Championship Series on the off chance that the Cubs advance. “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 National League Division Series shifted from Milwaukee to Chicago, he threw off the mound for the first time since landing on the IL 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’d need to win three straight games against the Brewers to move on.
Horton, who had as good of a second half as any major-league starting pitcher, steadied the Cubs rotation down the stretch run to help lock up the top wild-card seed in the National League. 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, not just on the field, but off the field, gelling with the group, being a great teammate,” said 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 both tossed duds in the first two games of the series.
It would have been helpful to have a top Rookie of the Year candidate included 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 may not help, in a series where the Cubs have so far been outmatched by the Brewers. But they could use any little edge.
“Wrigley was incredible,” Taillon said Tuesday 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 held live batting practice on Tuesday, 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.
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