Well, that’s a horrible way to kick off your weekend. Not only did the Cubs fail to get over .500 for the first time this season, they also lost arguably their single most important pitcher, Cade Horton, for an indeterminate amount of time.
Frankly, that depressing moment put today’s loss in perspective … It always stinks to lose, but I don’t really care at all about this one particular game at the moment.
In case you missed the big news, Cade Horton left this game with the Cubs’ head trainer in the middle of the second inning with what was eventually identified as right forearm discomfort. We don’t know the extent of his injury yet, but if he is going to miss extended time, it’s going to be a HUGE loss for the Cubs. Remember, Justin Steele won’t be back until (at the earliest) the end of May. And even when he does return, we have no idea how effective he’ll be or how many innings he’ll be able to throw this year.
Indeed, this injury to Horton is eerily evocative of that early April 2025 injury to Justin Steele, right down to both guys being, arguably, the most important starter on their respective teams. Obviously, the Cubs were still able to make it to the postseason without Steele last season, but his absence was definitely a big reason why they couldn’t progress beyond the NLDS (… ditto, incidentally, the untimely loss of Horton, last September).
With that said, one of the reasons the Cubs were able to keep competing last year after losing Steele was because of Colin Rea, who is today’s Ankin Law: “Making it Personal” Player of the Game.
Just like last season, Colin Rea came in to cover for Horton after his injury, throwing an impressive 3.1 innings of 1-run ball with four strikeouts. That is incredibly impressive for a guy coming into a game cold and with no expectation of having to throw that many innings.
It’s still too early to say if (or how many) starts will need to be covered in Horton’s absence, but you can bet that Colin Rea will likely be the first internal choice. Ben Brown is another possibility, as is Javier Assad (and some external options), but we’ll just have to see. More on that later/tomorrow.
Offensively, this was a dud of a game for the Cubs, especially for Ian Happ, who struck out three times. But that was pretty predictable because the opposing starter, Joey Cantillo, is a changeup specialist with reverse splits (he feasts on righties because of that changeup). And it sure seems like changeups are Happ’s biggest weakness, especially as a righty. So, yeah, just not set up for success on that one.
Carson Kelly was the only guy with a two-hit game, and Nico Hoerner was the only other player to reach base twice (two walks). PCA had a double and a stolen base, but there just wasn’t much doing overall. Oh, now that I think about it, the Cubs popped up in three straight at bats with runners on first and third at one point. That was pretty much their only opportunity all game.
Anyway, that’s a loss and it stings twice as bad because of Cade Horton.
Full Box Score.
Hence then, the article about enhanced box score guardians 4 cubs 1 april 3 2026 was published today ( ) and is available on Bleacher Nation ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Enhanced Box Score: Guardians 4, Cubs 1 – April 3, 2026 )
Also on site :