Matthew Boyd Tears His Meniscus Playing With His Kids and the Cubs' Rotation Just Got Way Worse

Here's a gut punch nobody saw coming: Cubs starter Matthew Boyd, 35, tore his meniscus sitting down to play with his kids. Not on the mound. Not in the gym. Just being a dad. Now he needs surgery and the Chicago rotation is falling apart at the worst possible time.

Boyd underwent a partial left knee menisectomy, per ESPN's Jesse Rogers. The Cubs are estimating he could miss about a month and potentially return before July, but there's no concrete timeline yet. For a team sitting pretty at 24-12 and leading the NL Central, losing a starting pitcher to a freak injury at home is brutal.

The Rotation Is Crumbling

Boyd had been a steady presence too. He started five games this season with a 2-1 record and a 6.00 ERA. His last outing came on May 3 against the Arizona Diamondbacks, where he looked solid, pitching six strong innings and allowing just two runs for his second win. He walked one and struck out five. That's the kind of performance a contender needs right now.

But here's where it gets worse: Boyd is now the 11th pitcher on Chicago's injured list. Justin Steele, another starter, suffered a setback with his elbow injury at the end of April and isn't expected back until after the All-Star break. The Cubs have 10 pitchers already on the shelf as of May 6. That's not a depth problem anymore. That's a crisis.

Baseball's Weirdest Injuries Keep Happening

Boyd's injury is joining a long, bizarre list of freak accidents that have sidelined players over the past decade and a half. We're talking thumbs sliced while washing dishes, elbows broken by a startled bull, broken noses from barbells, fingers shattered playing video games, and even a shoulder dislocated while celebrating a World Series home run. One player fractured a hand when a suitcase fell on it. Another cut a pinky repairing a drone.

Baseball has seen it all. And somehow, there will probably be more.

The Cubs need to find answers fast. With the rotation bleeding out, Chicago can't afford to wait until July for Boyd to get healthy.

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