CHICAGO -- The Cubs trusted rookie Cade Horton with the ball in the opener of this week’s crucial five-game series with the rival Brewers, and for good reason. Horton has emerged as a key part of Chicago’s rotation and has been one of the game’s top starting pitchers since the All-Star break.
Things took an unexpected turn on Monday afternoon, when Horton was forced out in the third inning of the Cubs' 7-0 loss to the Brewers in Game 1 of the doubleheader due to a blister on his right middle finger.
After holding Milwaukee’s lineup off the board in the first two frames, Horton allowed a one-out solo homer to Brice Turang on a fastball in the heart of the zone. The right-hander then yielded a double to Caleb Durbin, and Horton could be seen looking at his hand after the play. He was promptly met on the mound by manager Craig Counsell and head athletic trainer Nick Frangella.
Horton was examined and allowed to throw some test pitches, and he initially remained in the game. He then induced a groundout from William Contreras before throwing seven consecutive balls. That included a four-pitch walk to Christian Yelich and hitting Andrew Vaughn with a 2-0 pitch, leading to Counsell lifting Horton from the game.
On the season, the 23-year-old Horton -- picked in the first round of the 2022 Draft -- has logged a 3.08 ERA in 17 appearances (16 starts). More recently, the righty entered Monday having spun a 1.13 ERA in his past seven turns and a 0.32 ERA in his previous five outings, which included a 28 1/3-inning scoreless streak.