Nightmare scenario for Cubs brewing in this NL Central pitching matchup

The Chicago Cubs dodged Milwaukee Brewers' phenom Jacob Misiorowski last week. Misiorowski was scheduled to face the Cubs last Wednesday at Wrigley Field, but the game was postponed due to rain. Instead, Misiorowski started for the Brewers during their weekend series against the Minnesota Twins, and once again looked like he was going to be a major problem for the Cubs moving forward.

After pitching five no-hit innings in his Major League debut, Misiorowski took a perfect game into the seventh inning during his start against the Twins this weekend. The one thing that has kept the Brewers at the top of the National League Central in recent seasons has been their ability to develop homegrown aces. Misiorowski has all the makings of being the Brewers' next ace.

Misiorowski's next matchup will be a pitching contest that fans have been begging for. When the Brewers face the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday, the scheduled pitching matchup is Misiorowski going against Paul Skenes. Two names that figure to be at the top of the National League Cy Young award voting for multiple seasons ahead. And, barring the Pirates changing course and deciding to move Skenes, a matchup that will remind the Cubs of what they are facing in the NL Central for at least the next few seasons.

Just what Cubs fans wanted — this NL Central pitching nightmare

As it stands, the Cubs' iteration of Misiorowski and Skenes is Cade Horton. Though in the scale of pitching prospects, Horton never quite reached the level of hype that Misiorowski and Skenes had. That said, Horton has checked every box since making his Major League debut earlier this season. In 41 innings pitched this season, Horton has an ERA of 3.73, and the biggest takeaway has been his command. Horton is walking fewer than 6% of the hitters he has faced this season.

Now, the concern for Horton, as with the Cubs' pitching staff as a whole, the young starter isn't missing bats. Horton's strikeout rate, 17.6%, is well below the Major League average. As the weather warms at Wrigley Field, Horton will need to miss more bats. Looking through Horton's ascent through the minor-league system, there's no reason to think the strikeouts won't. Horton thrived at missing bats, including having a 30.6% strikeout rate with the Iowa Cubs this season before making his debut.

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