Cubs give nightmare update on Cade Horton, who will miss the Wild Card Series

It might not be an absolute worst-case scenario, but it's not too far from it. On Saturday, the Chicago Cubs placed right-hander Cade Horton on the 15-day injured list with a right rib fracture - taking him out of consideration for a start next week in the Wild Card Series against the San Diego Padres.

The Cubs still need either a Padres' loss or a win of their own to clinch home-field advantage in the best-of-three series, which kicks off next Tuesday. After Horton left his last start early due to what was initially labeled back soreness due to a lingering cough from an illness, red flags went up with the fanbase, who anxiously awaited an update. Now, they have it.

It's especially frustrating because as recently as Saturday morning, there were positive updates coming from the team. However, the Cubs will now kick off postseason play without their ace pitcher, who just turned in one of the best second-half runs we've ever seen, establishing himself as one of the brightest up-and-coming arms in all of Major League Baseball.

Cubs will turn to their veteran trio in place of the injured Cade Horton

Craig Counsell will likely turn to some combination of Matthew Boyd, Shota Imanaga and Jameson Taillon next week. All have their shortcomings, with the latter two spending significant time on the IL this year and Boyd looking to be running on fumes before a recent bounceback outing against the Mets.

Imanaga's struggles with the long-ball have once again taken center stage. Taillon starts for Chicago on Saturday and has been very sharp since returning from his latest IL stint. Other potential options include Colin Rea, who has a 2.63 ERA and 1.35 FIP in five September starts and Javier Assad, but almost certainly, it'll be Imanaga, Boyd and Taillon.

The timing lines up so the Cubs would have to not only advance next week, but reach Game 5 of the National League Division Series for Horton to even be eligible to return and pitch. And that doesn't take into account the question of whether or not he'd physically be ready to go by that point. It's a haymaker of a blow for Chicago with just days until the postseason starts.

Next man up. That's all you can say at this point.