Cubs will open NLDS vs Milwaukee without Cade Horton, who is on the 15-day IL with a right rib fracture. Horton injured Sept. 23 and was placed on IL Sept. 27. He finished with a 2.67 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 118 innings, and a sensational late-season run (1.03 ERA over his final 61.1 IP) that put him among the game's elite rookies. Chicago must lean on Matthew Boyd, Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon and Collin Rea to bridge the gap in a high-stakes series.

The injury reshapes the Cubs’ playoff math, elevating the importance of veteran depth and bullpen execution. Horton’s absence magnifies the workload on the top four and raises questions about future playoff health. For fantasy managers, Horton’s absence could tweak rotation usage, win expectations, and bullpen split plans in a tightly contested NLDS.

The Cubs edged the Padres 3-1 at Wrigley in a wild-card clincher, sparked by Dansby Swanson’s glove and a jubilant clubhouse embrace. Crow-Armstrong blossomed into a centerpiece as Happ, Suzuki and the rest fed off the energy, delivering a champagne-soaked celebration that ended Chicago’s postseason drought and set up a NLDS with Milwaukee.

The Cubs ride Taillon’s late-season surge (1.57 ERA, 0.902 WHIP in six starts) into a winner-takes-all clash at Wrigley, while San Diego’s Yu Darvish, back from elbow issues, faces a Chicago lineup that hunts contact and keeps balls in the park. Chicago leans on disciplined at-bats and a bullpen map sharpened by postseason history; San Diego counters with Darvish’s upside and the threat of Tatis Jr. to puncture any missteps.

Historical notes color the mood: Chicago has navigated multiple two-game splits in past playoff series, with home wins in key moments, and 2025's pattern of frequent scoring after early blanks informs both teams’ approach. Expect Taillon’s efficiency and Cubs’ home-field edge to shape late-inning decisions as the Cubs try to close out the series.