Matthew Boyd Tears Meniscus Playing With His Kids and the Cubs' Injury Crisis Is Out of Control

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Matthew Boyd is done for the foreseeable future. The 35-year-old needs meniscus surgery after suffering a freak injury while sitting down to play with his kids, according to ESPN's Jesse Rogers. There's no timetable for his return, but if Boyd manages to pitch again this season, don't expect to see him before the All-Star break.

The Cubs' Pitching Staff Is Collapsing

Boyd has made five starts this season, posting a 2-1 record with a 6.00 ERA. He last pitched on May 3 against Arizona, earning his second win after six solid innings where he allowed two runs, walked one, and struck out five. It was a solid outing. Now he's gone.

And he's not alone. Justin Steele, another Cubs starter, suffered an elbow setback at the end of April and won't be back until after the All-Star break either. As of May 6, Chicago has 10 pitchers already on the injured list, with Boyd about to be the 11th. The Cubs are sitting at 24-12 and leading the NL Central, but their rotation is getting decimated.

When Good Teams Get Derailed by Bad Luck

Boyd's injury is the latest in a long line of bizarre accidents that have sidelined MLB players. Over the past decade and a half, we've seen guys break bones and get hurt doing things like washing dishes, getting spooked by a bull, putting on pants, dropping a piano bench on a toe, and even trying to hold a case of water at Target. Baseball's injury list reads like a comedy of errors sometimes.

But when you're leading your division and your starting pitchers keep hitting the shelf, it stops being funny. The Cubs have the talent to win now. Getting Boyd and Steele back healthy will be the difference between a real playoff run and watching this opportunity slip away.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.