Cade Horton to IL with Rib Fracture

[BKHoo]

His back loosened up once they identified the rib fracture. 

[Bertz]

24 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

Out of curiosity did they need to put him on the IL? Couldn’t they have just not named him to the NL WC roster? At least gives the option of putting him on the NLDS roster if he’s feeling better in a week. 

I guess the answer is likely that there’s no chance that he’s healthy in a week but either way seems unnecessary to put him on the IL when they can simply just not add him to the roster unless I’m missing something. 

I'm guessing he's done for the year, and they are using the IL to get another warm body up here for tomorrow.  I'd guess they're hoping none of the leverage guys have to pitch and they can have some combo of Wicks, Civale, and Assad take tomorrow's game to the house.

[SOFNR]

Is it even possible to bring someone off IL to start a game in the NLDS? You've got set rosters so I wouldn't think so, but you can make moves if someone gets injured so maybe you can pull off some horsefeathers. 😆 But yah, dont think hes coming back.

[Michael Busch Light]

Bummer news on Cade.  He’s been dealing.  I don’t think we matchup well with the Padres but you never know in a 3 game series 

[chibears55]

So game 5 of nlds would be his earliest return 

https://x.com/JesseRogersESPN/status/1971995120896823504?t=2dyWBVsZKJEqySkTPO60XQ&s=19

[jersey cubs fan]

8 hours ago, s2obed said:

Medical staff is incompetent apparently. And if he was hurt why was he pitching? Same with Tuck.

If tuck was pitching while hurt I’d have a bigger problem with Counsell than the trainers 

[Stratos]

9 hours ago, Tangled Up in Plaid said:

Chris Sale broke a rib earlier this year and was out a couple months. 

If this were the regular season i'd imagine 2 months would be the rough timeline.   They'd be cautious with him too, but they'll for sure rush him big-time for the playoffs..  Personally I can't see him back before the NLCS or WS if he comes back at all.

[Stratos]

10 hours ago, Cubbies1996 said:

So Boyd, Taillon, and Shota?

Boyd game 1, Taillon game 3.  Between Shota and Rea, I could see either getting the nod.

Rea has been good lately, is much better vs RHB than LHB.  Shota struggling lately but slightly better vs LHP than RHB but mostly even splits.  Padres have a good mix of LHB and RHB, though their big sluggers are RHB.  I imagine the Cubs will look at the individual matchup numbers too, especially vs Rea who's been around the league a while.

[Adipost]

From listening to Counsel, it sounds like they identified the rib fracture in the initial MRI.  Horton was adamant that he could pitch through the injury.  He then threw a session on Friday, and his mechanics were off due to the rib injury.  I would assume they give him a week and a half off from throwing and try again, see if he’s comfortable enough to pitch.
 

 

[Adipost]

10 hours ago, chibears55 said:

Lmao, so it went from a sore back to where they had hoped he slept on it wrong to rib fracture 😅

Who do they think they're hiding medicals from that they don't want to know that their players are seriously hurt

That was just twitter reporters, I think.  Counsell specifically said the MRI showed “some areas of concern in his ribs”.  He didn’t flat out call it a fracture at the time because they wanted to see if Horton could pitch through it.  I know that QB’s can play with broken ribs, so I guess maybe there is not that much risk in making the injury worse.  

Edited September 28, 2025 by Adipost

[Bull]

Rib fracture doesn't mean what it sounds like it means. It's not like he snapped a bone. Its more likely the a rib pulled away from the connecting cartilage. Think of it more like a dislocated rib. Still very painful and debilitating

 

[Rcal10]

10 hours ago, Stratos said:

Boyd game 1, Taillon game 3.  Between Shota and Rea, I could see either getting the nod.

Rea has been good lately, is much better vs RHB than LHB.  Shota struggling lately but slightly better vs LHP than RHB but mostly even splits.  Padres have a good mix of LHB and RHB, though their big sluggers are RHB.  I imagine the Cubs will look at the individual matchup numbers too, especially vs Rea who's been around the league a while.

It could be as simple as if the wind is blowing in they go with Shoto in game 2. If it is blowing out they go Rea. Personally, I think it will be Shoto. But they will have guys ready. So, who are the pitchers in this series?

Boyd, Shoto, Tailon, Rea, Soroka, Civeli, Assad, Palencia, Pomeranz, Thielbar, Kittredge, Keller. 
That is 12. Am I missing anyone? Rogers? Wicks? 

[Rcal10]

17 hours ago, Bertz said:

I'm guessing he's done for the year, and they are using the IL to get another warm body up here for tomorrow.  I'd guess they're hoping none of the leverage guys have to pitch and they can have some combo of Wicks, Civale, and Assad take tomorrow's game to the house.

I agree with this. I think Wicks will follow Assad today. I don’t expect any of their multi inning relievers to pitch multiple innings today.