Yes, I know that for any Cubs fan, the words “Cade Horton to injured list” in a headline gives feelings of dread.
But here we are. Horton was placed on the injured list today, the move retroactive to Saturday.
For pitchers, the IL is 15 days. The “fortunate” thing, if there is one regarding this stint, is that the Cubs have two off days during that span. Horton will be eligible to return April 19. With those off days, it’s possible Horton, if deemed healthy, could start that day against the Mets, thus
missing only two starts.
In any case, we will have to wait until Tuesday, probably, for any updates. After Friday’s game, manager Craig Counsell suggested that Horton would stay with the team Saturday, return to Chicago Sunday and probably have imaging done Monday. Until then, as always, we await developments.
Left-hander Riley Martin was called up from Triple-A Iowa to take Horton’s spot on the 26-man active roster. Martin was the Cubs’ sixth-round pick in 2021 out of Quincy University in western Illinois, and this will be his first call-up to the major leagues at age 28.
Right-hander Ethan Roberts will join the team Sunday as the 27th man for the doubleheader.
Martin has made one appearance for Iowa this year, starting last Tuesday vs. Louisville and throwing 47 pitches over three innings. He allowed three hits and one run and struck out three. This hints that Martin would be stretched out for a long-relief role and one of the two long relievers currently in the Cubs pen, Colin Rea or Ben Brown, would slot into Horton’s rotation spot, which next comes up Wednesday in Tampa.
Welcome Riley Martin to the Cubs, and honestly, how can you not love a success story like this? (Bluesky link)
