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The day before Cubs rookie Cade Horton’s start last week in Pittsburgh, pitching coach Tommy Hottovy tried to hype up the moment to him: “Oo Paul Skenes, Cade Horton, it’s a big matchup.”
Horton just laughed.
Eventually Hottovy came clean. He was trying to build up the start because he wanted it to feel like a playoff game. Hottovy plans to do the same thing before Horton’s start Tuesday against the Mets.
“Then when we sit down before your first playoff game and we’re going over the lineup, you’ve already done it,” Hottovy recalled saying to Hoton.