CHICAGO – Cade Horton has been one of the better pitchers in baseball over the past three months, making the Cubs' rookie a leading candidate to take the ball when the North Siders play their first postseason game in five years next week.

Given Horton’s importance to the rotation -- not to mention Chicago’s chance for a deep October run -- it made sense that manager Craig Counsell pulled the plug at the first sign of an issue on Tuesday night at Wrigley Field. The right-hander was lifted from his start against the Mets after three innings due to back tightness.

The Cubs announced that Horton’s early exit was precautionary in nature, but ending his evening likely put a period on his rookie campaign for Chicago. And over the past few months, the 24-year-old Horton has arguably vaulte

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