Matthew Robert Boyd...Signed a two-year Major League contract with the Cubs on Dec. 6, 2024, completing his first season with Chicago in 2025...Ranked fourth among AL left-handed pitchers in SO/9.0 IP ratio (9.54) from 2018-24 (min. 500 IP)...Struck out 238 batters in 185.1 innings in 2019, tied for the 10th-most in the Majors...Made his Major League debut with the Tigers in 2015 after he was acquired from Toronto at the Trade Deadline in a four-player trade involving left-handed pitcher David Price...Was named a Baseball America Minor League and Double-A All-Star in 2015...Was named the Florida State League Pitcher of the Week three times in 2014 with High-A Dunedin...Was selected by Toronto in the sixth round of the 2013 draft...Attended Oregon State and helped the Beavers to the College World Series in 2013...Was named First Team All-Pac-12 and a Third Team All-American by Baseball America in 2013...Graduated from Eastside Catholic High School in Washington.
2025
In his first season with Chicago in 2025, went 14-8 with a 3.21 ERA (64 ER/179.2 IP) in 31 starts...His 31 starts were the most in a season since his 32 in 2019...Led the team and was tied for eighth in the Majors with 14 wins...Finished seventh among qualified NL pitchers with a 3.21 ERA...Led MLB and set a franchise record with 11 pickoffs...The 11 pickoffs were the most in a single season in the Majors since Clayton Kershaw (also 11) in 2012...Pitched four scoreless innings in relief during the Cubs' 4-2 exhibition win over Yomiuri March 16 in Tokyo...Tossed 5.0 scoreless innings in his Cubs team debut on March 30 in Arizona...Did not allow a run in 16 straight innings to begin his Cubs tenure, spanning into his third start...Recorded his 50th career win May 17 vs. the White Sox (three ER/6.0 IP)...Allowed four runs on May 23 at Cincinnati, snapping a 17-start stretch dating to Aug. 13, 2024 of allowing three earned runs or fewer in each outing...Posted a 2.87 ERA (29 ER/91.0 IP) during the stretch...Took a perfect game into the sixth inning in a 2-0 loss on June 4 in Washington...Tossed 7.1 innings, his longest outing since April 24, 2021 vs. Kansas City (8.0 IP)...On June 9 in Philadelphia, made his fifth career start with no strikeouts, his first since May 22, 2018 at Minnesota...Picked a runner off in a career-high three consecutive games from June 4-14, tying a Cubs franchise record (also: Rick Sutcliffe - June 17-27, 1985 and June 7-17, 1986 and Bill Hands - May 28-June 6, 1970)...Reached 1,000 career innings after completing the sixth inning June 25 in St. Louis...Tossed a season-high eight scoreless innings July 12 at the Yankees, the third time in his career that he has thrown at least eight scoreless innings (last: July 31, 2018 vs. Cincinnati)...Was selected as an All-Star for the first time in his career, but did not pitch in the game...Tossed a career-high 25 straight scoreless innings from July 1-28...The scoreless streak was the longest by a Cub since Ryan Dempster went 33.0 straight scoreless innings from June 5-July 14, 2012...Recorded his 1,000th career strikeout in the third inning on July 28 in Milwaukee (Jackson Chourio swinging)...Allowed two runs or fewer in 10 straight outings from May 28-July 22, posting a 1.14 ERA (eight ER/63.1 IP), the lowest ERA among qualified Major League starters during the run...On Aug. 2 vs. Baltimore made his third start this season of at least seven scoreless innings...On Sept. 6 vs. Washington, picked off two runners in a game for the first time in his career, his ninth and 10th pickoffs this season, setting a franchise single-season record, passing Charlie Smith (nine in 1913)...Became the first player in the Major Leagues to pick off at least 10 runners in a season since Eric Lauer in 2018 (also 10)...Made three postseason starts for the Cubs, going 0-1 with a 2.79 ERA (three ER/9.2 IP)...Made starts in two playoff wins for the Cubs: Game 1 of the NLWC vs. San Diego and Game 4 of the NLDS vs. Milwaukee - a game that kept the series alive for the Cubs.
2024
Matt returned from injury in 2024, going 2-2 with a 2.72 ERA (12 ER/39.2 IP) in eight starts with the Cleveland Guardians...Signed a one-year contract with Cleveland on June 29 as he was rehabbing from Tommy John surgery...Made five rehab starts across three levels of the Guardians' organization prior to making his team debut on Aug. 13 vs. the Cubs (1 ER/5.1 IP)...The outing marked his first in the Majors since June 26, 2023 at Texas with Detroit, spanning 414 days...Led the Guardians rotation in ERA (2.72) from his debut through the end of the regular season (min. 20 IP)...Earned his first win with the Guardians on Aug. 25 vs. Texas at Progressive Field (1 ER/6.0 IP)...Posted three-straight quality starts from Aug. 25-Sept. 6, boasting a 1.50 ERA (3ER/18.0IP) with 18 strikeouts and one walk during that stretch...Held the Los Angeles Dodgers to one run over six innings of work on Sept. 6 at Dodger Stadium, his first road win with the club...Struck out a season-high nine batters across 4.1 innings in a no-decision at Chicago (A.L.) on Sept. 11...Made three postseason starts for Cleveland, allowing one run in 11.2 IP.
2023
In his second stint with the Tigers, went 5-5 with a 5.45 ERA (43 ER/71.0 IP) and 73 strikeouts in 15 starts...Went 4-0 with a 3.62 ERA (15 ER/37.1 IP) in eight starts on the road, compared to 1-5 with a 7.49 ERA (28 ER/33.2 IP) at home...Struck out a season-high nine batters in 5.0 innings on June 4 at the White Sox...Left his start on June 26 and underwent Tommy John surgery, missing the remainder of the season.
2022
Missed most of the 2022 season while rehabbing from an injury, but returned in September to pitch in 10 games and help the Mariners to the playoffs...Began the season with the San Francisco Giants before being traded to Seattle on Aug. 2...Sidelined from March 27-Sept. 1 with a left elbow strain...Made his season debut with Seattle on September 1 at Detroit, throwing a scoreless inning...marked his first appearance in relief since Aug. 18, 2017 vs. Los Angeles (NL)...Had his longest outing of the season on Oct. 5 vs. Detroit, tossing 3.0 hitless innings with one walk and five strikeouts...Appeared in one game during the American League Division Series vs. Houston, giving up a hit and walking one in a third of an inning.
2021
Posted a 3-8 record with a 3.89 ERA (34er, 78.2ip) and 67 strikeouts in 15 games for the Tigers…was limited to 15 starts after missing much of the season due to injury...Started on Opening Day start for Detroit vs. Cleveland, marking his second consecutive start in the season opener...threw 5.2 shutout innings and gave up three hits with four walks and two strikeouts...Was named the Tigers Pitcher of the Month for April, compiling a 2-3 record with a 2.27 ERA (9er, 35.2ip) and 24 strikeouts in six starts...ranked sixth in the American League in innings pitched and ERA during the month, while he was seventh in WHIP (0.93) and ninth in FIP (3.05)...Posted a 1.94 ERA (9er, 41.2ip) through his first seven starts of the season...Was sidelined from June 14-August 29 with left arm discomfort...Was Placed on the injured list on September 11 with a left elbow strain and missed the remainder of the season.
2020
One of baseball’s most durable pitchers during the abbreviated 2020 campaign, Boyd made 12 starts spanning 60.1 innings... Posted a 3-7 record and 6.71 ERA (60.1IP/45ER) on 67 hits, 22 walks and 60 strikeouts during the club’s 58-game sprint season…started his year 0-4, but won three of his final six outings…posted a season high in strikeouts on Aug. 17 at Chicago (AL), punching out nine over just 4.0 innings pitched... Lefthanded batters hit just .135 (5x37) off him this season, while righties batted .304 (62x204)...Tossed the second complete game of his career in the first game of the doubleheader on Sept. 4 at Minnesota…punched out eight hitters over 6.0 innings pitched, but took the loss after allowing two solo home runs…became the first Tigers pitcher to throw a complete game and take the loss since Michael Fulmer on May 27, 2017, at Chicago (AL)...Threw 1,086 total pitches, which was the 10th highest total for any American League pitcher in 2020… also led Tigers pitchers in starts, innings pitched and strikeouts.
2019
Established career highs in several categories in 2019, including games started (32), innings pitched (185.1) and strikeouts (238), while he tied a career high in victories (nine)...Set a franchise record with 11.56 strikeouts per nine innings, which ranked fourth in the American League and sixth in the Major Leagues...also ranked fourth in the AL and 10th in the Majors with a 4.76 strikeout-to-walk ratio, sixth in the AL and 10th in the Majors with 238 strikeouts, ninth in the AL with a 1.23 WHIP and 10th with a .247 opponent batting average...Finished the season with 238 strikeouts, which is the fifth-highest, single-season total by a lefthanded pitcher in franchise history...became the first Detroit pitcher to strike out 200-or-more batters in a season since Justin Verlander in 2016 and just the third southpaw in club history to reach the mark, joining Mickey Lolich (seven times) and Hal Newhouser (twice)...Posted seven games with 10-or-more strikeouts during the season, which is tied for the sixth-highest total by a Tigers pitcher since 1908 and the most since Justin Verlander had eight such games in 2016...Recorded double-digit strikeouts in each of his first two starts of the season, fanning 10 on March 29 at Toronto and 13 on April 3 at New York (AL)...became the first Tigers pitcher since at least 1908 to open the season with consecutive double-digit strikeout performances...Notched seven consecutive quality starts from April 3-May 8, compiling a 4-1 record with a 2.58 ERA (45.1IP/13ER) and 53 strikeouts...limited opponents to a .190 (31x163) batting average over that span...Named the Tigers Pitcher of the Month for May, compiling a 3-2 record with a 2.55 ERA (35.1IP/10ER) and 40 strikeouts...ranked fifth in the American League in ERA, while he was 10th in strikeouts...Struck out 10-or-more batters in three consecutive starts from June 26-July 13, striking out 11 on June 26 vs. Texas, 13 on July 4 at Chicago (AL) and 10 on July 13 at Kansas City...became just the fourth Detroit pitcher since 1908 to strike out 10-or-more batters in three consecutive games, joining Mickey Lolich (three times), Denny McLain and Justin Verlander.
2018
Established a career-high with 31 starts and 159 strikeouts in 2018...his 159 strikeouts were the secondmost in a season by a Detroit lefthanded pitcher since 1974, trailing only Mickey Lolich, who fanned 202 batters in 1974...Finished the season ranked 10th in the American League with a .228 (146x639) opponents batting average…among AL pitchers following the All-Star break, he ranked seventh in WHIP (1.08) and 10th in opponents batting average (.230, 63x274)...Excelled at Comerica Park, posting a 6-3 record with a 2.63 ERA (78.2IP/23ER) and 69 strikeouts in 14 starts, while he went 3-10 with a 5.89 ERA (91.2IP/60ER) and 90 strikeouts in 17 road starts…ranked fourth among AL pitchers with a 2.63 home ERA (min. 75.0 innings pitched)...Started the season by throwing 6.0-or-more innings and allowing one run-or-less in each of his first three starts…became the first Tigers lefthanded pitcher since at least 1908 to work at least 6.0 innings and give up one run-or-less in each of his first three starts of the season...Named the Tigers Pitcher of the Month for May after posting a 3-2 record with a 3.18 ERA (34.0IP/12ER) and 31 strikeouts in six starts...Tossed a season-high 8.0 shutout innings on July 31 vs. Cincinnati, scattering four hits and fanning seven...Recorded the first double-digit strikeout game of his career on September 8 vs. St. Louis, striking out 11.
2017
Established career highs in games pitched (26), games started (25), innings pitched (135.0) and strikeouts (110) in 2017, while tying a career high in wins (6)...Made eight starts at Triple A Toledo during the season, throwing 6.0-or-more innings in six of his eight starts and allowing three runs-or-less in seven-of-eight starts...Started five games for Detroit in April and posted a 2-1 record with a 3.86 ERA (25.2IP/11ER) and 19 strikeouts...Picked up his first Major League hit on May 10 at Arizona off Zack Godley... Recorded his first career complete game shutout on September 17 vs. Chicago (AL), allowing just one hit and striking out five...threw 8.2 no-hit innings and allowed a two-out double to Tim Anderson in the ninth inning, breaking up the no-hitter...Named Tigers Pitcher of the Month for September after compiling a 1-3 record with a 2.95 ERA (36.2IP/12ER), 30 hits allowed, 11 walks and 30 strikeouts...ranked fourth in the AL with 36.2 innings pitched in September, while he was 10th with a .216 (30x139) opponents batting average.
2016
Established career highs in most statistical categories in 2016, including wins (6), games pitched (20), games started (18), innings pitched (97.1) and strikeouts (82) - also finished the season with a career-best 4.53 ERA (97.1IP/49ER)...Started 11 games at Triple A Toledo and posted a 2-5 record with a 2.25 ERA (53.0IP/16ER) and 57 strikeouts - allowed three runs-or-fewer in all 11 starts... Recalled from Triple A Toledo on April 24 - recorded the longest relief appearance of his career that night at Cleveland, throwing 4.2 scoreless innings with two hits allowed, three walks and two strikeouts...Optioned to Triple A Toledo following the game on April 24... Struck out a season-high nine batters on May 20 at Lehigh Valley... Recalled from Triple A Toledo on May 27...Optioned to Triple A Toledo on June 18... Recalled from Triple A Toledo on July 8... Notched his first quality start of the season on July 18 vs. Minnesota, throwing 6.0 shutout innings with three hits allowed, one walk and a career-high-tying seven strikeouts. Started four games in July and posted a 2-0 record with a 2.21 ERA (20.1IP/5ER) and 23 strikeouts, while he went 3-0 over six appearances, five starts, with a 2.79 ERA (29.0IP/9ER) and 23 strikeouts... Optioned to Triple A Toledo on August 29... Recalled from Triple A Toledo on September 6...Posted 10 consecutive starts with three-or-fewer runs allowed from July 9- September 6 - during the stretch, which also included one relief appearance, Boyd had a 5-1 record with a 2.56 ERA (56.1IP/16ER), 49 hits allowed, 16 walks and 52 strikeouts...Threw a career-high 8.0 innings on September 20 at Minnesota, allowing one run on three hits with one walk and a career-high-tying seven strikeouts... Lefthanded hitters posted a .172 (11x64) average, while righthanders batted .276 (86x312) against him... Appeared in 10 games, including nine starts, at Comerica Park and went 3-3 with a 4.89 ERA (46.0IP/25ER) and 37 strikeouts…made 10 outings, including nine starts, on the road and was 3-2 with a 4.21 ERA (51.1IP/24ER) and 45 strikeouts... Compiled a 0-2 record with a 5.77 ERA (34.1IP/22ER) and 27 strikeouts in seven games prior to the All-Star break, while he was 6-3 with a 3.86 ERA (63.0IP/27ER) and 55 strikeouts in 13 games following the All-Star break.
2015
Opened the 2015 season in the Toronto Blue Jays organization before being acquired by the Tigers along with Daniel Norris and Jairo Labourt in exchange for David Price on July 30. In 13 appearances, including 12 starts, between the Tigers and Blue Jays in 2015, he compiled a 1-6 record with a 7.53 ERA (57.1IP/48ER) and 43 strikeouts. Compiled a 9-2 record with a 1.65 ERA (114.2IP/21ER) and 108 strikeouts in 19 minor league starts. Won the MiLB.com fans' choice vote for best starting pitcher in the minor leagues. Selected as a minor league All-Star and a Double-A All-Star by Baseball America...in 19 starts in the minors, he led all qualified starters in WHIP (0.85) and opponent batting average (.176), while he was second in ERA. Assigned to Double-A New Hampshire to begin the season and did not allow a run in his first three starts, a span that stretched 14.1 innings. Named the Eastern League Pitcher of the Week for the week ending May 17 after finishing the week with a 1-0 record, a 0.00 ERA (12.0IP/0ER) and 11 strikeouts in two starts. Finished the month of May with a 3-0 record, a 1.19 ERA (37.2IP/5ER) and 30 strikeouts in six starts. Made his first start with Triple-A Buffalo on June 14 vs. Charlotte and allowed two runs, one earned, on six hits with eight strikeouts in 7.0 innings. Had his contract purchased from Triple-A Buffalo on June 27 -- made his major league debut that day vs. Texas throwing 6.2 innings and allowing four runs on nine hits with seven strikeouts. Had his contract optioned to Triple A Buffalo by the Blue Jays on July 2. Made four starts with Buffalo in July and finished the month with a 2-0 record, a 3.00 ERA (27.0IP/9ER) and 25 strikeouts. Made his debut with Triple-A Toledo on August 1 at Louisville and thew 2.0 hitless innings with three walks and one strikeout. Had his contract recalled from Triple-A Toledo by the Tigers on August 5 -- made his Tigers debut that night vs. Kansas City and picked up the first win of his major league career, throwing a season-high 7.0 innings and giving up one run on seven hits with two strikeouts. Made one relief appearance for the Tigers on August 19 at the Chicago Cubs and tossed 0.2 innings. Posted a 1-3 record with a 5.40 ERA (36.2IP/22ER) and 27 strikeouts in seven home starts...went 0-3 with a 11.32 ERA (20.2IP/26ER) and 16 strikeouts in six appearances, five starts, on the road. Lefthanded hitters posted a .368 (25x68) average against him...righthanders hit .289 (46x159) against him.
