Matthew Boyd's Injury Comeback Is a Mess, and the Cubs Need Him to Figure It Out Fast

The Cubs are rolling at home. They've won 14 of their last 17 games overall and are sitting pretty at 13-5 at Wrigleyville this season. On Sunday afternoon, they're chasing an 11-game home winning streak against Arizona, fresh off a 2-0 shutout of the D-backs on Saturday behind Shota Imanaga's seven scoreless innings. But there's a problem brewing in the rotation, and his name is Matthew Boyd.

Boyd Still Looking for Consistency After Biceps Strain

Boyd was the Opening Day starter back in April. He looked sharp early, striking out 10 in a 6-2 win over the Angels on April 1. Then came the arm discomfort. A left biceps strain landed him on the injured list as a precaution, and when he returned to the rotation on April 22, things fell apart fast.

Since coming back, Boyd has made two starts and hasn't made it past the fifth inning in either one. He gave up seven runs on 13 hits in 8 2/3 innings combined against Philadelphia and San Diego, posting no-decisions in both outings. His most recent start was brutal. Down 9-7 to the Padres in San Diego on Monday, Boyd's frustration boiled over. He burned a challenge on a 2-1 fastball to Ramon Laureano in the first inning that was clearly a ball. That decision set a terrible tone. The Padres scored three runs that inning thanks to two walks and three hits. "It's putting our hitters and our team in a hole when you do something like that in that situation, so early in the game," Boyd said afterward. "It was not a smart move on my part. I regretted it. I'll do my best to not make that mistake again."

The Numbers Tell the Real Story

Boyd is 1-1 with a 7.00 ERA, which is not what the Cubs need right now. On Sunday, he'll face Arizona's Merrill Kelly, who is 1-2 with a 9.20 ERA and just as lost as Boyd. Kelly opened the season on the injured list with intercostal nerve irritation causing mid-back tightness. Since returning on April 14, his command has been nonexistent. He's given up 13 runs on 16 hits in his two most recent starts while walking eight, ballooning his WHIP to 2.25.

"I think every comeback is different," Kelly said after walking five in a 13-2 loss at Milwaukee on Tuesday. "I have to stop putting myself in bad situations."

Both arms are trying to find their way back. Manager Craig Counsell isn't panicking, though. "You play the game in front of you and play with the guys you have and then you go from there," he said. "That builds resiliency, if anything." He's right. The Cubs have seven different relievers recording saves this season, and that depth kept them alive. But Boyd needs to stop shooting himself in the foot, or Chicago's home dominance could start slipping.

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