The 2026 season could not have started much worse for the Chicago Cubs.

Manager Craig Counsell told reporters Tuesday ace pitcher Cade Horton will miss the remainder of the campaign because of an injury that will require elbow surgery. The right-hander pitched just one inning in Friday’s loss to the Cleveland Guardians before exiting with a trainer, and the ensuing news was quite a blow for the National League Central team.

If this was the only injury for the Cubs, it would be difficult enough to deal with given Horton’s importance to the team’s outlook this season.

However, Justin Steele has been out since April 2025 because of surgery on his left pitching arm, while Matthew Boyd is on the injured list due to a biceps issue. Horton, Steele and Boyd are arguably the top three starting pitchers on Chicago’s roster.

What’s more, slugger Seiya Suzuki is yet to make his debut this season after suffering an injury during the World Baseball Classic.

While there is optimism Steele will return this season, losing Horton may be too difficult to overcome in what figures to be a daunting NL Central race after three teams made the playoffs last season.

The 24-year-old right-hander was brilliant in 2025 as a rookie and finished with a 2.67 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 97 strikeouts in 118 innings. It was only reasonable to expect a second-year leap, and he seemed to be well on track with a 2.45 ERA and 0.82 WHIP through his first 7.1 innings of work.

But now his future is murky at best, and the best the Cubs can hope for at this point with Horton is an early return during the 2027 season. And even if that becomes the case, there is no guarantee he will be as effective after missing significant time with such a serious elbow injury.

It is a nightmare scenario for Chicago that only magnifies its slow 4-6 start that has left it in last place in the division in the early going.

Yes, there are plenty of games remaining to make up any deficit and perhaps make a charge for a second straight playoff appearance, but that is much easier said than done without the team’s ace.

The Cubs will need Steele to be effective when he does return while also relying on pitchers such as Shota Imanaga, Edward Cabrera, Jameson Taillon and Javier Assad to help weather the injury storm they are already facing in early April.