Reds could turn early-season chaos into an edge as Cubs pitching issues keep growing

The Cincinnati Reds were bitten by the injury bug early this season. Hunter Greene underwent arthroscopic elbow surgery in March and isn't expected to return until July. Nick Lodolo has been dealing with a blister issue that currently has him on the IL and his return to the active roster is still up in the air.

The Reds, however, have been able to weather the storm. Andrew Abbott and Brady Singer have led the Cincinnati rotation through the first two weeks of the 2026 season, and the young trio of Brandon Williamson, Rhett Lowder, and Chase Burns have been terrific at the outset.

Reds weather the early-season storm while the Cubs struggle

The same cannot be said for the Chicago Cubs, however. The North Siders began the season without one of their top arms, Justin Steele, who's recovering from Tommy John surgery. The Cubs are also without Jordan Wicks, and Matthew Boyd recently landed on the IL with a strained biceps.

But the biggest blow came late last week when Cade Horton was placed on the 15-day IL with a forearm strain. Recent reports, however, signal that Horton might miss the rest of the season. According to ESPN's Jesse Rogers, Horton's MRI did not come back clean, and he's now is headed to Texas to see Dr. Keith Meister. The Cubs will await Dr. Meister's analyst before making any further decisions.

Though this is certainly a blow for the Cubs' hopes to compete for the NL Central Division crown in 2026, it certainly helps the Reds' chances. Chicago was assumed to be the best team in the division heading into season, but with their top starters on the shelf, Cincinnati may be able to gain an advantage in the standings.

Heading into play on Tuesday, the Reds (7-3) trail the Milwaukee Brewers (8-2) by one game in the NL Central. It's far too early to begin scoreboard watching and start making bold proclamations about postseason baseball, but Reds fans have to like the fact that their favorite team is off to a hot start.

The Cubs, on the other hand, are at the bottom of the NL Central standings. While the Reds have struggled with the bats during the first two weeks of the season, the Cubs have been even worse. Chicago is the worst hitting team in the National League (.199 batting average), and though their starting rotation has excelled despite all the injuries, their bullpen hasn't been so fortunate.

Both the Reds and Cubs have dealt with significant injuries to their respective pitching staffs at the beginning of the season, and at the moment, Cincinnati has the edge. The results of Horton's visit to Dr. Meister could have grave ramifications for the Cubs going forward, but it's far too early in the season to count any teams out of the mix — except maybe the Colorado Rockies.