Though the Cubs have been faced with what seems like constant bad news in the pitching department to begin 2026, Matthew Boyd turned in some positive signs in his first -- and perhaps only -- rehab start at Triple-A Iowa on Thursday.
Boyd, who was placed on the 15-day IL on April 6 (retroactive to April 3) with a left biceps strain, went 3 2/3 innings on 64 pitches in what turned out to be a wild extra-innings win for Iowa at Columbus. Boyd allowed three earned runs on four hits, striking out six with one walk.
The left-hander worked a 1-2-3 first inning, with his fastball reaching 94.1 mph (his average in two MLB starts this year was 92.7). Boyd only ran into trouble in the second inning. Stuart Fairchild hit a leadoff double at 108.4 mph before Nolan Jones drove him in with a soft liner up the middle. Another double and a sacrifice fly scored two more before back-to-back strikeouts ended the threat.
Boyd bounced back with a scoreless third and two strikeouts to begin the fourth before giving way to reliever Gabe Klobosits. His fastball velocity dipped slightly in his final frame to a maximum of 93.1 mph in his final frame, but all seemed well as he finished the rehab outing.
The Cubs need their 35-year-old Opening Day starter back in the fold as soon as possible. Their depth has been ravaged by a season-ending elbow injury to young phenom Cade Horton and IL stints for several others, from top prospect Jaxon Wiggins to expected high-leverage bullpen arms Phil Maton and Hunter Harvey.
Boyd struggled in his first appearance of the season against the Nationals, allowing six runs in 3 2/3 innings, though he struck out seven. He continued to induce whiffs in a stronger second start against the Angels -- 5 2/3 innings, two runs and 10 strikeouts -- before landing on the IL.
The Cubs anticipated from the start that this would only be a minimum stay for Boyd, who has now taken an important step toward his return to Chicago.
“Frankly, given a different time in the season,” Boyd said when he first landed on the IL, “it’s something that I would just take the ball and keep going.”