Good morning, Chicago.

In a marquee matchup opposite National League Cy Young Award front-runner Paul Skenes, Cubs rookie Cade Horton held the Pirates to one run and three hits in five innings. The Cubs tallied 14 hits en route to a 4-1 victory. The bullpen was again brilliant, combining to toss four shutout innings in which they allowed just one baserunner, didn’t walk a batter and struck out six.

“I love pitching in high-stakes moments,” Horton said. “I feel like that’s something I’ve loved doing my whole career, and so it’s a lot of fun to go out there and compete when you know you’re in the thick of it.”

The Cubs (87-64) can clinch a playoff spot on Wednesday with a win. It would be their first postseason appearance since the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, and their first in a full season since 2018.

Horton owns a major-league best 0.93 ERA since the All-Star break (11 starts) with 15 walks and 52 strikeouts in 58 1/3 innings. He lowered his season ERA to 2.66 in 115 innings/22 outings and is positioned to make big starts in the postseason.

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