{"id":165682,"date":"2026-03-17T16:49:20","date_gmt":"2026-03-17T16:49:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=165682"},"modified":"2026-03-17T16:49:20","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T16:49:20","slug":"cubs-ace-cade-horton-silences-doubters-with-dominant-spring-showing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=165682","title":{"rendered":"Cubs Ace Cade Horton Silences Doubters with Dominant Spring Showing"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Chicago<\/picture><\/div>\n
Chicago Cubs pitcher Cade Horton | Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images<\/div>\n

The Chicago Cubs will begin their 2026 campaign next week with Opening Day now looming right around the corner, and final tune ups are being made as the team finishes off its spring schedule.<\/p>\n

Stats at this time of year are generally meant to be taken with a grain of salt. However, Chicago’s young ace Cade Horton had some folks concerned with how sharp his game was headed into the season by the way he had performed in exhibitions so far.<\/p>\n

Through his first two outings, the 24-year-old had posted a 9.53 ERA and 1.59 WHIP, but in Monday’s victory over the Cleveland Guardians, he found the right gear and completely mowed down the lineup in front of him.<\/p>\n

In five innings pitched, Horton allowed just three hits and one run while walking just one and absurdly striking out 10 Cleveland hitters. His stuff looked as tantalizing as it ever has throughout his young career, generating whiffs on numerous different pitch types.<\/p>\n

\"CadeCade Horton | Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Horton heating up at perfect time for Cubs<\/h2>\n

“I felt like tonight I put it all together,” Horton said after the game via Jordan Bastian of MLB.com. “It feels really good…Last week, I got hit around a little bit. But I feel like I put a good work week together. And so, to see the work I put in the middle of the week to today, I feel like it\u2019s really cool to see what you\u2019re working [show up for] you in the game.”<\/p>\n

This was likely Horton’s last outing of the spring, with the youngster in line to start the team’s second game of the season after Matthew Boyd gets the ball on Opening Day. With a gap day in between Opening Day and the second game, though, he could get one more shot to tune things up, but he certainly looks like he’s ready for the season to begin in Chicago.<\/p>\n

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Cade Horton tonight:
5.0 IP | 3 H | 1 R | 10 K
21 Whiffs (51%)<\/p>\n

His stuff looked as good as it ever has \u2014 generating whiffs with four different pitch types. pic.twitter.com\/zNjnlpbAjQ<\/a><\/p>\n

— Carson Wolf (@TheWrigleyWire) March 17, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n