Today we look at the Cubs’ young starter, who had a remarkable rookie season.
Cade Horton went 11-4, 2.67 in his first season, throwing 118 innings with 90 strikeouts and a 1.08 WHIP. None of that is out of line with his minor-league production, and so the immediate conclusion is that this is who he is.
That’s mighty good news for the Cubs, who rarely develop top-line starters and have been depending on a collection of aging imports and veterans both in the rotation and in the bullpen. The bullpen arms change every year or two — the Cubs are always panning for relief gold. But the starters cost real money and if they fail, it’s a problem.
The Cubs had that problem last year, and made the playoffs in spite of those losses, largely on the strength of Horton’s right arm as he brought the spark the offense had let go out. He got a good many of the RoY votes but didn’t win. He was robbed. If he hadn’t gotten hurt with the playoffs looming, he might well have been the winner.
The 22-year-old former No. 7 overall pick turned in a 2.0 bWAR (2.2 fWAR) campaign, and there’s every reason to suspect that he will do better in a full-length season. Projections don’t give him full-time innings, most penciling him in for between 20-25 starts. He does have a bit of an injury history.
We’ll have to see if that’s the case. If it isn’t, we’re looking at between 12-15 wins, I should think. A 162-game average based on his one season would have him 17-6 with 147 Ks. Let’s hope so, and hope that Horton gets to pitch on the big stage this year.
Shōta Imanaga tomorrow. Jameson Taillon Thursday, and a longer Edward Cabrera feature Friday to cap the week off right,