CHICAGO -- Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that veteran lefty Matthew Boyd had little reaction when informed that he would take the ball to start the team’s postseason run. Given the schedule and circumstances, Boyd understood that his name might be called and was prepared for the news.
Maybe Boyd remained collected for Counsell, but the pitcher could not stop the emotions from breaking through in his press conference during Monday’s workout day on the eve of the National League Wild Card Series against the Padres. Boyd used his shirt to wipe away tears as he reflected on the moment.
“You think about a career,” said Boyd, gathering himself, “this is cool, because -- it's cool for so many different reasons. It's cool because you never know when the opportunity presents itself.”
The Cubs have handed the assignment to Boyd for Tuesday afternoon's Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series after rookie Cade Horton’s sensational regular season ended with a trip to the 15-day injured list due to a right rib fracture. Horton stepped up when Chicago’s rotation was dealing with setbacks, and now the group is tasked with making up for his absence to begin the playoffs.
While Counsell has not announced any plans for Game 2 on Wednesday afternoon or a potential Game 3 on Thursday afternoon, lefty Shota Imanaga and righty Jameson Taillon are lined up as the primary options.
That the job went to Boyd is no real surprise, considering the 34-year-old lefty just turned in one of the best seasons of his career. He was a first-time All-Star who spun a 2.20 ERA in his first 20 starts of the season, ending the year with a 3.21 ERA overall and his highest innings (179 2/3), starts (31) and strikeouts (154) totals since 2019 with Detroit.
“We're lucky to have Matt,” Counsell said. “He's a big reason why we're here. He's been our consistent take-the-ball-every-time starter and you're happy to hand the ball to a guy like that.”
Boyd’s durability this season has been a pleasant surprise, given he averaged just north of 50 innings across the previous four years due to a variety of injuries. The Cubs were careful to pick spots to let him work deeper into games, and Boyd was fully on board with the team’s approach. He struggled down the stretch (5.16 ERA in his last 11 turns), but Counsell did not feel that was related to fatigue.
“Matt's been throwing the ball all right,” Counsell said. “I think if you go back a couple starts, I think he got himself into too many bad counts. That was just what happened to him.”
Boyd faced the Padres twice this season back in April, limiting San Diego’s lineup to two runs over 11 1/3 innings combined. That included piecing together six scoreless innings at Wrigley Field.
Asked if there was a moment that sums up Boyd, Counsell actually pointed to last season.
“To me, it was his start in Cleveland against us,” said Counsell. “That’s what jumped out to me about Matthew Boyd.”
On Aug. 13 last year, Boyd took the hill at Progressive Field for the Guardians, who signed him midsummer amid his comeback from Tommy John surgery. He had not pitched in the Majors in 414 days, but he went out and sliced his way through Counsell’s Cubs for 5 1/3 brilliant innings en route to a 2-1 win for Cleveland.
What happened from there was nothing short of remarkable. Boyd helped Cleveland’s depleted rotation get into the postseason with a 2.67 ERA in eight starts down the stretch. He then started three games in October, logging a 0.77 ERA and helping Cleveland come within three wins of reaching the World Series.
The Cubs were convinced. They signed him to a two-year deal in the offseason.
“My grandfather grew up in Chicago. He grew up a Cubs fan,” Boyd said. “I think 2016 was one of the happiest days of his life. I get to be a Cub now. It's pretty cool.”
Boyd has referenced his late grandfather, John Boyd, multiple times since joining the Cubs. It is one of the reasons the pitcher tends to get sentimental when discussing pitching for the storied franchise. His grandpa would probably love the fact that Boyd has gone 12-1 with a 2.59 ERA in 16 career games at Wrigley Field now.
There is a pretty important game on deck at the Friendly Confines for Boyd.
“It's something you dream of,” Boyd said. “To get to do it at Wrigley, to get to do it for the Cubs organization, it's something I don't take lightly and it's an amazing honor. I'm extremely grateful.”