Chicago Cubs rookie right-hander Cade Horton has been downright stingy of late.
After logging three consecutive scoreless outings and four in his past five, Horton will look to help the Cubs salvage the finale of their three-game series against the visiting Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday afternoon.
It won’t be easy, however, if the first two contests of the series are any indication.
Chicago has just seven hits and has struck out 18 times over that stretch. The Cubs have lost nine of their past 15 contests to fall four games back of the National League Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers.
The Reds, in turn, have won eight of their last 12 contests to reside a season-high six games over .500.
Horton (5-3, 3.42 ERA) has allowed just eight hits and has struck out 10 batters in 17 shutout innings over his past three starts.
The 23-year-old Oklahoma native has quickly adjusted to life in the majors after making six starts with Triple-A Iowa earlier this season.
“He’s very clear-headed out there, very focused, and he doesn’t let anything distract him from the next pitch,” Chicago manager Craig Counsell said. “That’s a very simple approach, but it’s an advanced approach.
“For a young player, when you put him into a new environment, you’ve got a lot of extra stuff going around. Cade seems to be able to avoid all that, block it out and just concentrate on the task at hand. That leads to continued success.”
Horton has yet to face the Reds in his young career, although he might want to tread carefully around Spencer Steer and TJ Friedl.
Steer had an RBI single in the fifth inning and a three-run homer in the seventh during Cincinnati’s 5-1 victory on Tuesday.
“I got it off the end of the barrel a little bit, and I’m honestly shocked it went (out),” Steer told FanDuel Sports Network regarding his long ball. “I think I hit it at the scoreboard, and maybe the wind wasn’t knocking it down as much. Just fortunate that the ball got out. Big spot there.”
Friedl hit a tiebreaking single in the seventh inning of Cincinnati’s 3-2 win over the Cubs on Monday. He added a pair of singles the following night to extend his hitting streak to seven games.
The Reds will turn to Andrew Abbott (8-1, 2.15 ERA) on Wednesday, with the All-Star left-hander seeking his first win in nearly one full month.
Abbott has three straight no-decisions since posting his latest win on July 9 against the Miami Marlins. He allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits in 5 1/3 innings Thursday against Atlanta in his most recent outing, doing himself no favors by issuing five walks to drive up his pitch count. The Reds lost 12-11 in 10 innings.
Abbott, 26, sports a 3-0 record with a 2.30 ERA in five career appearances (all starts) against the Cubs. He is 2-0 with an 0.71 ERA in two starts vs. Chicago this year, logging both victories in late May.
–Field Level Media
