Cade Horton has been DOMINANT for the Chicago Cubs

Cade Horton has been DOMINANT for the Chicago Cubs

Kate Horton is starting to have, dare we say, a special season as the Cubs salvage the series. Let’s go. You are Locked on Cubs. Your daily Chicago Cubs podcast, part of the Locked On podcast network. Your team every day. You are Locked On Cubs, part of the Locked On Network. Your team every day. Alongside Sam Olber, I’m Matt Cozy. Sam and I are lifelong fans taking our passion into a discussion with you on all things Cubs. Trivia to wrap up the show, a glimpse at the minor leagues, namely Triple A. Cubs salvaged the series against the Reds. And we start with Cubs rookie starting pitcher Cade Horton. Since the All-Star break, Horton has thrown 22 and two/3 innings. He’s allowed zero ag zero runs on just 10 hits, seven walks, 16 strikeouts. On the season now, he’s down to a 3.18 erra in 15 games. The Cubs are 10 and5 when Horton takes the mound. Sam, we’ll get into the details of his start on Wednesday, but this kid has really stepped up this year. Yeah, it’s it’s it’s been a really special story, especially in the second half when when this team doesn’t have many positive stories uh to choose from. That that that’s the top story. If you want to be a little bit of the Grinch, um, what what you’d say is is, hey, right now, we have to really think about in the off season like a longer winded show about Wrigley Field and and the and the issues. Don’t have to yet. Still 48 games left. And the issues that it’s causing hitters. I mean, you know, you I I had a tweet about it today. Yeah. It’s like it’s like uh Tiger Stadium in the when we were kids. Kate Horton, any guesses on his home road eras? I would say if his season erra is 318, I just read it off. So at Wrigley, it has to start with a one, maybe a zero. Going into today, it was it was 185. So after today, it’s probably down to like 16, something like that. And on the on the road, it’s over five. Um, you know, including his debut in Queens. Yeah. Now in Houston, that’s not to take anything away from him. He’s been spectacular. Um, and and I just want to make that point that I really do think that some of Jed’s thinking, and I’m not defending it, is like, hey, we don’t need it. Why overpay for a controllable pitcher if the wind’s going to blow in here all the time? Whatever. It’s a separate conversation. It’s just it’s wild the the conditions. Anyways, Cade was tremendous. Um, the the one thing he hasn’t done a ton of uh at this level that that we thought we were going to get is is get a lot of strikeouts. Yeah. Um, but today the stuff is starting to really come along. Uh, a and he got six today and five and two/3. Um, he he maxed out at 99 today. I don’t know if you saw that. Wow. Was throwing and 99 was some real cut. Um, yeah, it was just it was a very good performance. Just very aggressive, very businesslike. Um, he’s been like that all year. Yeah. and and when he’s gotten himself in trouble, I think he’s a little bit overaggressive with two strikes. But on a day like today, it it was really good to see. And I think, you know, if you were to tell me that we’re in, you know, early August here and Kate Horton is is clearly the third best option on the team right now pitching wise and is pitching to a 3180 RA. I mean, that that that’s a big jump for a guy that really had had some issues last year injury-wise and performance-wise. So, um, really nice to see, really exciting. I think, you know, the Cubs are the Cubs are have a nice little pocket of pitchers here. You know, Steel will be back, Horton, Imanaga, Boyd. Um, you know, and it’s fun. It’s fun to watch him pitch and it’s it’s exciting. He’s 23 years old. It’s exciting. It is. It is. And it’s it’s one of the larger stories for the team both with short-term ramifications for the rest of this campaign on a chase for a playoff spot, chase for a division title, but also in the long term, like you just mentioned, the mix for 2026 and beyond. Uh Horton threw 67 pitches Wednesday, 56 were strikes. It’s the highest strike percentage by a Cubs pitcher in 25 years since the 20 uh 2000 season. Uh he was removed in the six, Sam, as they continue to keep tabs on his usage. I had no problem with that. Uh he’s already over the century mark in innings after throwing just 34 last year due to a shoulder injury. And one of the most notable things I took from the post game was from Horton himself who said the Cubs pitch limits on him since he was drafted has actually likely made him a better pitcher in terms of efficiency. And uh if that’s the case, let’s keep that keep that rolling because if he if he could give you even if he could face 18 guys the rest of the way and and and and be dominant like he has, great. Well, that’s could be a long leash out for the pen, but I’m willing to take that chance to protect him. Well, it’s interesting that that that’s what he said because that also goes in line with maybe why he’s so aggressive 0212. He doesn’t want to waste pitches because he knows he might be coming out. Yeah. And and pitching to contact a little more. Right. Right. Right. Right. I mean, when you’re when you’re trying to go deep when you know old school guys when they’re trying to go deep in the game, you’re trying to get early outs. You’re not trying to rack up Ks. It’s it’s a different it’s a different mindset now. But yeah, I mean, it’s good. It’s good to see he’s improving. Um I I we we’ve talked a lot about his mound presence. Um the the great attitude, great presence. The biggest thing for him is, in my opinion, has been the change up. He he got drafted and skyrocketed on draft boards because the Cubs love that sweeping slider. That pitch hasn’t had the success, I think, that a lot of people thought it would. But what has had the success is the change up, especially to lefties. Um that’s his out pitch. That’s just his his K pitch. And you know, it’s crazy when he pitches. Like I was watching today, like he had a couple like 97s. You could actually see the ball cutting. It it it’s it doesn’t feel like it’s 97. It feels like it’s like, oh, what was that like a 92 mph cutter, but you know, he’s got really good stuff. And you know, you’re if you’re looking for reasons to be excited right now, you know, obviously the present is the key, but you know, PCA, Matt Shaw has been really good in the second half. Um, Cade Horton has been really good here lately. Those are going to be, you know, hopefully three building blocks for your team for a long time. Also, after the game, Danby Swanson called Horton special. Craig Councel said he has top end stuff. And Horton allows me, Sam, to be optimistic in this recent times of of Cubs turbulence. Uh, let me know if you agree or disagree with this statement. So, I don’t think it’s too much of a reach, but I did want to throw it out there. If Boyd, Horton, and Immanaga are all on, so to speak, yeah, the Cubs could beat any anybody. I the the caveat to me is the is the conditions. I If Wow. Yeah. If if Shony Managa is pitching, well, you need to start looking up then what the wind does at Wrigley in October. Yeah, because because those three guys in October, I they they do give me reason for optimism, especi especially because the offense has been so putrid. I think I feel pretty good about Boyd in any situation. I I I I think the other guys I I Let’s see like Kade’s going to pitch next his next start’s going to be in Toronto. Let’s see how that goes. That’s going to be against a really good team, really good offense. If you were to tell me that the Cubs are hosting the New York Metropolitans at Wrigleyfield in October on three 48 degree days, I absolutely agree. They’re they’re right there with anybody because those guys could pitch. But I I have doubts about Shota if the wind’s blowing out. I have doubts about certain guys um in different positions. But yeah, for the most part, those three guys, they’re your three. But I do think there’s some conditions that Listen, I feel really comfortable Jameson Tyone if the wind’s blowing in. You just throw That’s a stretch for me. You just throw strikes and let say, “Hey, go hit a home run.” Um, but I understand what you’re saying. We’ll recap the entire Cubs Reds game right after this. Everydayers. And you can become a Locked on Cubs every day by joining us every episode throughout the week. And we will be I’ve heard I’ve heard Johnson likes Beijing. We’ll be uh direct quotes the other day about Beent were he was amazing. Yeah. So, and locked in. And I can’t help to think that’s a shot at at Caleb in the public. Week eight. The Cubs defeated the Reds 6-1 on Wednesday. We already talked about Kate Horton, Pomerance, Kitridge, Keller, and Palencia all pitched out of the pen. Uh Kitridge, how about this for the beauty of baseball? After allowing four runs on Tuesday, uh getting lit up, he returns Wednesday and throws nine pitches, nine strikes for an immaculate inning in the seventh. Seiya Dansby and Ian Hap all hit home runs. Seiya finished two for two with a sack fly and a walk. The homer, single, and sack fly were all hit over 105. MPH, Nicoer, and Justin Turner also had multi-hit games, and I got some numbers on them in a little bit. Sam, it was a good all-around win to avoid the sweep, which the Cubs continue to do, unless you count the two games in Japan. One of the things the Cubs have done a really nice job of this year, and I think probably the biggest reason they’re 18 games over 500, is they’ve been able to limit really long bad stretches. I mean, their worst stretches are always like six and seven or something like that. Obviously, if they want to have a chance to win this division or go deep in the playoffs, they’re going to have to get hot again, which we’ve talked about, but they do a good job in these type of situations. I thought they played a really good baseball game today. Um, I’d like to give a shout out to to Justin Turner, who really absolutely quietly, Matt, is is doing kind of what he was asked to do now. He his he’s hitting, you know, over 300 for a long time now against lefties. That’s kind of what he’s here what what he’s here to do. And so give him credit. 303 with the 345 on base against lefties. That’s why he’s here. That’s why he’s here. So, and what does he get? Eight M’s? That’s no small number. I think it’s six. I don’t remember. I think it’s six. You know, I I’d be fine with either. Um, obviously to me outside of what we already discussed with with Kade, the biggest story though was Seiya looked like Seiya today just crushing the baseball, hitting the line drive, 110 mph, rocket through the wind for a home run. Um, that’s that’s really important because if the Cubs are going to make the postseason, if the Cubs have any chance, they need to get their big boppers going again. Um, so hopefully hopefully he could get hot again. And then I have to say the best the most cathartic swing of the day for me was um Ian Hapappo. I mean that used to be a regularity for him and he he now hits one or two a year opposite field. Um that that that’s one of the reasons I fell in love with Ian Hap the player early on in his career is his his oppo power from the left side was always so special. I mean, he used to hit no doubters opposite field. And so to to see that today, that brought me some hope with him. Kyle Tucker, by the way, doesn’t have one opposite field homer all year. That was this team this team loves to pull. That was a big reason though. I remember when they got him, everyone’s like, “Oh, well, he took advantage of the Crawford boxes. Just wait till he, you know, that left center Wrigley. He hasn’t hit one.” Um, but um, so literally has zero homers opposite field. Literally zero. I could pull up his baseball savant page right now. only has 18 homers. So, right now he has zero. So, that’s a shame, you know. Uh, but I really liked what Hap did and um, you know, that was good. Swanson Swanson hit a breaking ball. It was a really good win today. Kitridge, great bounceback. Uh, just a really good overall victory today u for the boys in blue. Hopefully Valencia, you know, doesn’t isn’t hitting a little regression period. Yeah, they they put him out there in a blowout. Yeah, it doesn’t matter. Doesn’t matter, right? I don’t care that he gave up a run in a six-run game. It doesn’t matter. Yeah. Well, you would like him to be sharper, though, is your point. No, I I just wanted to just I just wanted to put it out there that that’s runs in consecutive outings. And with the way, you know, with the way this bullpen’s orchestrated, they need him to be great in the ninth inning. But if Kitrich pitches like this and, you know, I mean, today, I mean, he looked like uh, you know, any combination of your favorite reliever of all time. It’s nine pitches, nine strikes. Strikes out the sigh. Yeah. No, I I I know. And uh Nico dropped a popup in this game, by the way. Yeah, you texted me that. That’s That was uh It happens. That was disappointing. Uh Nicoer in this game, Sam. I enjoyed him watching him again. Yeah. Can you guess his average since the break? His average since the break? Yeah, I’m gonna say Nico Horner is at a 330 33. Wow, you’re good at this. 33 38. Oh, that wasn’t that close. I’m not that good at it. Well, that you were one hit off. Whatever. Okay, so folks, Kyle Tucker and Craig Councel spoke about Kyle Tucker. Imagine that Kyle Tucker talked about himself. Good setup for me uh before Wednesday’s game. Not one of your best, but great job. and they were very conservative about, you know, Tucker’s status, especially his health. I’m having trouble buying it. Tucker’s very level as it is until what? It’s time to move on from the injury stuff. So, you were convinced then that he’s healthy based on those comments. No, but if they’re not if they’re not going to him, then I’m going to treat him like he’s playing and and judge him like that. Yeah, the pregame comments gave absolutely no indication they’re going to pursue the plan that we suggested on our last episode. Look, 100%. Look, Kyle Tucker has got a lot going on right now. Um he’s with a new team. He he he’s supposed to be the best hitter on the team. He’s playing for a contract that would set up him, his his kids, his their kids, and their kids and their kids, right? It’s a new environment. It’s a high pressure city. I I I I think I think he he’s he’s in his head right now. He’s he’s struggling. Um and you know, it it is what it is. I I just I I don’t think if the injury was that bad, I just don’t think he’d be out there. I I firmly believe he’s going to he’s going to get this figured out and be an asset, especially with his ability to take pitches. I mean, I listened to him today. Hey, yeah, I’m swinging at the right pitches. I’m taking the right pitches. I’m just not doing what I need to do with the good pitches. Um, you know, he had a really really rough spring. I know that doesn’t count, but you know, he’s going to get hot again. I believe in it. I I I I really do. Off day Thursday, then a three-game series in St. Louis. We’ll preview that series in our next episode, uh, the rare weekend series in which all three games are at night since Saturday is on Fox and Sunday is on ESPN. Coming up next, we have a report from Triple A Iowa and one trivia question. Stay tuned. All right, this is Locked on Cubs and our final segment is going to be to go down on the farm. Plus a trivia question later. Javier Assad struck out four, walked two and four and a third on Wednesday at Triple A. He allowed one run on four hits. Fast balls sat 9293. He topped out at 95. So that’s good news. Assad will likely make one more start before returning to the big league team. Jameson Tyion is starting Friday at Triple A and might return to the Cubs next week at Wrigley when they play the Pirates. Uh guessing that would be Tyion for Pearson. And then a tougher decision when Assad is ready. uh could be Ben Brown to keep getting consistent innings at Triple A unless uh which would be my my decision unless they say happy trails to Ryan Brazier. That would be my decision who uh and I would keep Brown. Uh Brazier has allowed six runs his last four outings. uh Sam, I to to go to an earlier point from you about Hoyer and possibly his approach to acquiring pitching at the deadline. I I’m I still can’t shake they didn’t get someone more of the top end variety whether that was in, you know, with the December or January or or last week. But I want another bat. I’m not a huge fan of Castro. Well, yeah. And whether I’m a fan of Castro or not, I wonder if so far the pitching pursuit was a diversion to really them needing another bat. Well, that’s except for you. You pointed it out a lot. Well, I wanted another bat since 2018. You know, when this offense broke, famous quotes, the offense is broke and then they didn’t acquire anybody. You can’t have enough bats, man. So, where was I going with that? Because you wanted to talk about You wanted to talk about Okay, here’s the pitching situation. So, Assad when Assad and Tyion, I do think Hoyer was comfortable. While I don’t necessarily agree wholeheartedly with this, I do think he was lighter in his pursuits of, you know, Morton and Hower. And you love Charlie because of Tyion Assad coming back. Yeah, they didn’t need another guy like that. They needed Sroa and then and if they were going to get a guy, it needed to be a top end guy. We know this. Um really interested to see how JO looks when he comes back. He’s had a weird season. It’s been really odd. Um early on in the year pitching at Wrigley, he he looked great. Had a couple blowup starts. Assad will help him. I mean, it feels like they’re okay depthwise. Um, it’s the question is going to be how much quality are they going to get? Yeah. How good are they? Yeah. And and again, we have really seen the the exposure of this pitching staff when when the wind’s blowing out. Remember that weekend in Seattle or against Seattle when the wind howled out and everyone gave up homers? That’s why I I had this tweet today. I I’d actually like to read it to you if you don’t mind, please. Um, I said, “I know this sounds crazy, but if the Cubs don’t come back in the Central, but make the playoffs, it’s crucial the three-game series is at Wrigley to protect this pitching staff.” Uh, parenthesis, assuming the wind blows in. Check out these numbers. I gave some numbers, home road, splits, whatever. I don’t have to read all this. Sure. Um, the Cubs right now, Matt, at home, and I don’t count the games in Japan as home games. That’s a neutral site. The Cubs are 36 and 20 at home. Uh, and I and and they’re 30 and 26 on the road. They are a really good home team. And one of the reasons they don’t hit as well at home, but I really think that they guys like I feel great about Javier Assad and Jameson Tyion at home if it’s going to be pitcher friendly. But the second you drop them off like in Chorus Field or or it’s it’s it’s it’s an unseasonable 86 degrees on a late September day at Wrigley, oh boy. You know what I mean? And and and that’s and that’s a very hopeful non-g great place to be. Where I think the Cubs need to excel more is how to produce runs when the wind’s blowing in. But that’s a separate conversation. Depthwise they’re in good shape. I I’m I’m confident in their staff at home. The guys that you mentioned, I’m a little bit fearful how they pitch on the road. So, do you have the home road splits of all the guys then? I have I had a good I have a good amount. Um I uh so Cad’s Cade I already mentioned the main the main guy the main starter Jamo’s 34 at home 54 road uh Boyd’s 175 at home 297 road IA’s about the same um okay and I that that’s that’s all I did and then and Erra is 368 at home as a team 419 on the road which isn’t u a huge discrepancy but I think a lot of that was inflated that one weekend when the wind was howling out well and then I could be cur I would be curious about the the uh the the the situational split there. You know, what’s the starter RA versus both RA, right? Home and road two. I can look around. All right, that’s good stuff. Also at TripleA, Miguel Amaya is five for 19 in his rehab stint. The Cubs do need to make a decision on him by Monday. Amaya doesn’t have any options left, so they will be saying goodbye to Reese Maguire unless they persuade John Birdie to go to Triple A for a few weeks before getting called up uh when rosters expand on September 1. Owen Casey is slashing 281 381 557. He’s five for 12 since the deadline. I’m sure that was in his mind a bit. And Mois byos is hitting 335 on the season. Sam and since being set back down last week, he’s four for nine with a homer. Would love to see him up. I think there’s an outside chance he still comes up Friday. Uh because you have three right-handers for St. Louis. Oh, I haven’t looked at who’s pitching yet. I know one of them is McGary, right? Yeah, it’s McGrevy or McGrevy. Sorry. Um or McGravy. No, I think it’s I think you said it right. Uh uh Sonni Sunonny Gray and uh who’s in the middle game? It’s uh Michaelis. It’s Boyd McGrevy Palente. Palante. Yes. Ray Palante and Imanaga and Gray. We’ll preview that series on Friday. All right. You ready for your trivia? I am. Hard week last week with the death of Ryan Sandberg. Yep. Rhino is one of five players in baseball history. Oh boy. To have recorded a 40 home run season and a 50 stolen base season. Wow. So that could either be same season or separate. Can you name the other four players? Ricky Henderson. No. Willie Mays? No. Oh wow. Separate season. A guy that hit Willie Mays never stole 50 bases in here. Could be could be separate or could be same season. Did Bonds ever steal 50? Uh yes, he did. Barry Bonds is one of the four. Is it possible Ricky Henderson didn’t hit 40 homers, Sam? Yeah. Well, that would that would have to be the answer. Uh Willie Mays. Yeah. Didn’t steal 50 bags. Okay, let me think. Give me Give me some more time here. Yep. You got three more. Two good guesses and then a solid uh one there to get bonds. Three more to go. Did Soraniano ever steal 50? No, he did not. Okay. Sorry. No, that’s all right. You don’t have to say sorry. It’s a great question. I’m not mad at myself. Um I know Manel never stole 50. I’m just thinking of power and speed, guys. I think I’m overthinking it a bit. Um no hints yet. No hints yet. Um A-Rod never stole 50, right? Jeter. No, it’s still Jeter, the future Yankees manager. Heard that heard that rumor today. Um, who who is a really good base stealer that I’m I’m missing here? I feel like I’m blanking. Um, 40 homers, 50 steals either in the same campaign or separate. Ronald Akunia. Yes. Okay. Um, Otani. Otani. Correct. Ryan Sandberg, Show Otani, Ronald Akuna, Barry Bonds, and Okay, one more. Okay. Can you give me an era? 90s. Uh, or can you repeat that question? Can you give me an era? Steroid. Steroid. Joseé Conco. No. Oh, good guess. He was 4040. Well, Sosa never stole 50. This is a Hey, I’m good. I’m good. I’m good. Steroid Palro never stole 50, did he? Same team. Brady Anderson. Brady Anderson. Sam. This is Lockdown Cubs, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network. Your team every day. For your second listen, check out the allnew Lockdown MLB game night. every game, every night, all season long. Get local analysis on a national scale. Find Thank you. on the locked on MLB channel on YouTube or wherever you listen to podcast. We’ll be back on Thursday evening or Friday morning whenever you listen prior to Cubs Cardinals. He’s Sam Olber. I’m Matt Cozy. This is Locked on Cubs. Shout out to Matt Cozy and Sam Olber, host of my favorite podcast, Locked On Cubs.

Cade Horton continues to deal, Cubs defeat the Reds, Javier Assad and Jameson Taillon will be returning soon, and much more.

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