Matthew Boyd Throws 6 Scoreless Innings in 5-2 Cubs Win After Injury Return

Q: After his heroic return, Matthew Boyd is injured again. Can the Cubs' playoff hopes survive their deepening pitching crisis?

Yes, but the margin for error just shrank sharply. Boyd had become one of the Cubs’ most stabilizing arms, posting a 1.72 ERA since returning on June 25 and throwing six scoreless innings in Tuesday’s 5-2 win over Baltimore. Now he is out again after a new left meniscus injury and surgery, with an estimated six-week recovery. That is a major blow for a club already missing Justin Steele, Cade Horton, Jordan Wicks and prospect Jaxon Wiggins, while other bullpen pieces are also sidelined. The reason the Cubs can still survive it is their position in the standings and their recent form. At 51-40, they have won 11 of 14 and remain firmly in the wild-card picture, with playoff odds recently ranging from roughly the mid-50s to upper-70s depending on the model. Their offense is also carrying more weight lately, with Dansby Swanson heating up, Pete Crow-Armstrong producing, and Miguel Amaya contributing. But Boyd’s loss changes the equation. Chicago now needs innings from stopgaps such as Ben Brown, Colin Rea and other internal options, and it likely increases the urgency for a trade-deadline starter. The bullpen, already stretched by injuries, cannot absorb repeated short starts without consequences. So the Cubs’ playoff hopes are still alive and credible because of their record, momentum and offensive improvement. But if they do not get competent rotation coverage quickly, Boyd’s latest injury could turn a manageable problem into the issue that defines their second half.

3 articles · Updated · MLB.com · Jul 8

Six scoreless innings from Matthew Boyd powered Chicago past Baltimore 5-2, with the left-hander striking out seven in his third start since returning from the injured list.
Boyd reached 93 pitches and 95.9 mph — his hardest fastball this season — as the Cubs said he has moved out of rehab mode and back into a normal routine.
Seven strikeouts and 15 whiffs reflected sharper stuff, especially a slider he used 22% of the time; four strikeouts came with runners on base.
Baltimore went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position against Boyd and 0-for-9 with men on overall, underscoring how effectively he escaped traffic.
For an injury-hit Cubs rotation, the outing was Boyd's longest since May 3 and his first six-scoreless start since Aug. 2 last season.