Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell is protecting his rookie pitcher for Saturday night’s contest against the New York Mets. The Cubs called up Cade Horton from Triple-A before their series against the Mets that started with a 7-2 thumping by New York on Friday night.
Cubs starting pitcher Jameson Taillon was rocked by the Mets’ offense, giving up five earned runs (six total) and nine hits in front of 41,243 fans at Citi Field. Chicago had a hole in their rotation for Saturday after they placed Shota Imanaga on the 15-day injured lost for the mild hamstring strain he suffered on Sunday night.
Chicago Cubs will start Brad Keller on Saturday
With the Cubs entering Saturday night on a three-game losing streak, Cubs manager Craig Counsell isn’t going to ask Horton to make his first start in the majors against the No. 1 team in the NL East. He’s naming Brad Keller as the starting pitcher. Horton will be active.
“(Brad) Keller’s gonna be the starter,” Counsell said via video from Marquee Sports Network. “Cade will be active, but we’re essentially running a bullpen game.”
Craig Counsell on tomorrow's starting pitcher: "(Brad) Keller's gonna be the starter. Cade will be active, but we're essentially running a bullpen game." pic.twitter.com/RE7BMKLGPk
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) May 10, 2025
Keller has appeared in 15 games for the Cubs this season. He’s posted a 3.78 ERA with 18 strikeouts in 16.2 innings pitched. The right-handed pitcher has made no starts this season.
A good reason for Cade Horton to wait
On Thursday, Jon Morosi of MLB Network hinted that Counsell wouldn’t start Horton on Saturday night during an appearance on 670 The Score.
“I’m a little little concerned about the number of walks, and I think that’s going to be the big question,” Morosi said. “The Mets are now a lineup that really grinds at-bats very well. And so what I’ll be curious to see, and this is something I’ve been talking to people about during the course of the day, the Cubs might actually have him pitch Saturday, but not start.”
Saturday night could be a big night for Horton, but he’s going to have to wait a little longer than many Cubs fans were hoping.
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