Cade Horton injury takes concerning turn in Cubs insider update

The Chicago Cubs may have another injury controversy to deal with, and this time, it has nothing to do with Kyle Tucker. Cade Horton was pulled from his start against the New York Mets after just 29 pitches, and while the initial indication was that the Cubs were preparing Horton for a Game 1 start in the playoffs, it turns out the rookie starting pitcher has been dealing with back stiffness over the last week.

The initial messaging from the Cubs was that the team was taking a cautious approach with Horton, but not to the extent that they avoided the potential National League Rookie of the Year from undergoing an MRI. Craig Counsell confirmed on Tuesday that Horton had an MRI done, and the impression was that the Cubs wanted to know what they were dealing with. In other words, back stiffness from a cough likely wasn't the only red flag the Cubs were seeing.

Cubs fans were already uneasy about the update from Horton, and Jesse Rogers of ESPN adds more fuel for the concern. In confirming an unverified tweet that the Cubs are preparing for bad news when it comes to Horton's MRI, Rogers suggested that the chatter he is hearing isn't positive.

Cubs insider sounds alarm on Cade Horton injury update

An injury that could force Horton to miss the National League Wild Card round would be a crushing blow for the Cubs. Approaching the playoffs, Horton has been the clear ace of the Cubs' rotation while Matthew Boyd has regressed from the All-Star form he had during the first half of the season, and Shota Imanaga has struggled with the home-run ball this season. In a scenario where Horton isn't available, Imanaga likely becomes the Cubs' Game 1 starter with Boyd and Jameson Taillon behind him.

Looking forward to the offseason, there will need to be a discussion regarding the Cubs' injury management. Between the weirdness that has ensued with Tucker's calf injury and Horton being sick suddenly turning into an injury that could shut him down, the Cubs have struggled to relay accurate information this season when it comes to injuries. With the lack of transparency, the Cubs leave themselves subject to criticism.

More Cubs News at Cubbies Crib