Featured Image: Cade Horton (22) throws a pitch for the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field (Photo Credit/David Banks Imagn Images)

The 2026 MLB season has been underway for a little over three weeks now, and injuries have already started to plague teams.

One team in particular that has experienced misfortune is the Chicago Cubs. Ace pitcher, Cade Horton, is already out for the rest of the season due to a UCL injury that required elbow surgery.

During his 2025 rookie season, Horton boasted a 2.67 ERA in 22 start, and looked like he would be a key piece of the Cubs’ starting rotation for the 2026 campaign, but luck was not on the Cubs side.

Another starting pitcher for the Cubs, Matthew Boyd, suffered an elbow strain and was placed on the 15 day IR. He is expected to return soon, with the Cubs placing him on a rehab stint. Right fielder, Seiya Suzuki also missed time at the start of the season due to an injury sustained in the World Baseball Classic, but has since returned.

Juan Soto experienced a calf injury and is expected to return soon. His rehab assignment is only a matter of time. The Mets currently are not off to a hot start now, as they currently sit at the bottom of the NL East. The Mets really could use his bat in the lineup. Soto finished his 2025 campaign with 43 homers and a slugging percentage of .525.

The Milwaukee Brewers weren’t expecting to find themselves fourth in the standings and part of this could be accredited to the hospital they’re currently running. Christian Yelich, left fielder for the Brewers, has experienced a left hamstring injury, and is expected to be sidelined till at least May. Outfielder, Jackson Chourio experienced a hand injury during the World Baseball Classic. He is also expected to return in May.

The injuries experienced in the World Baseball Classic have proved controversial, with questions being raised on whether the WBC is worth it or not with the chance of preseason injury. Defenders have simply just raised the argument that these injuries could be sustained during Spring Training.

Starting pitcher for the Brewers, Kyle Harrison got banged up in a game against the Washington Nationals with a wrist injury. However, he won’t be placed on the IL, just have his start pushed back.

Before fans of these teams begin to have meltdowns about the “season being over”, remember that it’s only April, and we’ve only seen about 10% of the baseball season. There is still a lot of baseball to be played.