Chicago Cubs' starting pitcher Cade Horton has had a memorable rookie year and that continued on Tuesday night.
Horton came into the game with a 2.78 ERA across 103.2 innings, and threw 6.1 innings of one-run baseball, giving up just four hits and collecting two strikeouts against the Atlanta Braves.
The Cubs' rookie lowered his season ERA to 2.70 and his post-All-Star break ERA to 0.83. Horton's historic second half of the season has put him near the top of the National League Rookie of the Year race.
Is Horton the NL Rookie of the Year?
Horton has now allowed just four earned runs across 53.1 innings pitched since the All-Star break. The longer the Cubs' rookie keeps this incredible run going, the louder the conversation becomes for Horton's NL Rookie of the Year case.
However, Horton is not thinking about the individual award. He has his sights set on another end of season award.
"I'd rather win a World Series than win Rookie of the Year," Horton said. "So, just continuing to block out that stuff and find ways to go out there on the fifth day and give our team a chance to win."
Horton's main weakness in the Rookie of the Year race currently is the amount of innings he's pitched. The Cubs' rookie reached 110 innings on Tuesday night, but manager Craig Counsel has been diligent with his innings all season.
Cade Horton this season:
— The Wrigley Wire (@TheWrigleyWire) September 10, 2025
21 G | 110.0 IP
2.70 ERA | 1.11 WHIP
89 K | 32 BB
Rookie of the Year. End of conversation. pic.twitter.com/CwidwlbY64
The rookie has already thrown a career-high in innings and the Cubs' want him at his best in the postseason. However, even with a lower pitch count limit, Horton has been able to work deep into games, consistently.
"He's just pounding the strike zone, and again, we've talked about it, he's just comfortable attacking inside the strike zone, and forcing guys to swing, and they don't necessarily get great contact," Counsel said. "So, it's really good stuff, and he's stepping up at really big time for us."
Horton has stepped up and he's given the Cubs' everything they could've asked for this year, especially since the All-Star break. Cubs' centerfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong believes his preparation is what's led to his outbreak.
Cade Horton since All-Star Break
— Christopher Kamka (@ckamka) September 10, 2025
(10 starts)
0.84 ERA, 53.1 IP, 28 Hits
46 K, 14 BB, 2 HR, .431 Opp OPS
"He's gotten more confident, I think, from the outside looking in as the year's gone on. He's controlled his own game pace so well, and kind of done things on his own accord," Crow-Armstrong said. "His preparation is ridiculous. It's like he's waking up for that one football game a week, when he goes out there to start.
"He's just a really, really good competitor, and I don't think he's afraid to let people whack it around a little bit because he knows he's going to be just fine."
Horton led the Cubs to a win on Tuesday night, and Chicago now has a six-game cushion in the NL wild card race. If Horton continues the run he's on, it'd be hard to look past him for the NL Rookie of the Year.
Chicago is back in action on Wednesday for the rubber match against the Braves.