ST PETERSBURG -- Three days after losing Cade Horton, the Cubs’ starting rotation was dealt another setback on Monday. However, this one doesn’t sound nearly as worrisome.
The team placed Opening Day starter Matthew Boyd on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to April 3) with a left biceps strain. Right-hander Javier Assad was recalled from Triple-A Iowa as the corresponding move and will start Tuesday’s game against the Rays, filling the spot that was originally scheduled for Boyd.
The left-hander said he wasn’t dealing with any pain, but instead felt like he wasn’t able to bounce back from his starts as well as he normally would. Both he and manager Craig Counsell didn’t express concern prior to the team’s series opener vs. the Rays. They see the IL placement as a chance to give the 35-year-old a short break. It is April after all; there’s no reason to push him.
“Frankly, given a different time in the season, it’s something that I would just take the ball and keep going,” Boyd said.
“[Boyd] thought he could pitch,” Counsell said, “but I think we also all agreed that it was best to be safe here. So, I expect this to be a minimum stint.”
Boyd, who said the injury did not impact his on-field performance, last pitched on Wednesday against the Angels, striking out 10 and allowing two runs (one earned) across 5 2/3 innings. The team pushed his next bullpen session back to this past Sunday because of how he was recovering, and that session went off without a hitch. Counsell said that Boyd actually felt better on Sunday than he did the day before. He isn’t expected to undergo any imaging and will continue throwing per usual before possibly going through a live batting practice session early next week.
The club just wants to be cautious with its veteran ace, who has a lengthy injury history over 12 seasons. Yet Boyd stayed healthy in 2025 and tossed 179 2/3 innings -- his most since 185 1/3 in 2019 -- as part of what was his first All-Star campaign.
“I want the ball in my hand to help the team win, but sometimes doing what's best for the team is thinking more of that long term,” Boyd said.
Assad joins the Cubs this week after two starts at Triple-A, recording a 9.00 ERA in seven innings. He made eight appearances (seven starts) for Chicago in 2025 to the tune of a 3.65 ERA. He logged 29 starts for the Cubs in ‘24.
“It’s next man up, and Javy’s on turn and ready to go, so it'll be his chance to make a couple starts,” Counsell said.
Although Monday’s news isn’t exactly positive, Boyd’s outlook has to give the Cubs a slight sigh of relief as they await word on Horton. He threw just 17 pitches in his second start of the season Friday before exiting in the second inning against the Guardians. Horton was diagnosed with a right forearm strain and officially placed on the 15-day injured list Sunday.
He is scheduled to be examined and undergo imaging on Monday in Chicago. Horton will get opinions from multiple doctors, so Counsell couldn’t say when the team will know more about the right-hander’s 2026 status.