CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MAY 3: Matthew Boyd #16 of the Chicago Cubs pitches in the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Wrigley Field on May 3, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Matt Dirksen/Chicago Cubs/Getty Images)
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The Chicago Cubs are playing winning baseball.
The Cubs are on the move in the National League Central Division standings.
The Cubs are in 1st place in the Central, with a record of 26-12. They have won nine consecutive games.
It’s a great winning streak!
As exciting as the start to the season has been for the Cubs, the reality of a serious pitching injury may have added a bit of anxiety to their overall joy.
Left-handed starting pitcher, Matthew Boyd has been placed on the Injured List with a partial repair of his meniscus. He has had successful left knee surgery, and he could return in “roughly six weeks.”
But there was an optimistic interpretation of his time line presented by si.com. They reported a radio interview with Cubs General Manager Carter Hawkins, who said Boyd had more of a “trimming.” In fact, Hawkins said, it’s more than a month for sure, and then we’ll kind of figure it out from there. So we’re optimistic about a quicker timeline.”
MLB.com explained Boyd’s situation this way: “The way Cubs manager Craig Counsell phrased it, veteran lefty Matthew Boyd woke up on Wednesday morning as a healthy player, in a matter of hours, a fluke setback while at home created yet another obstacle for the North Siders to overcome in the weeks ahead.”
Actually, Boyd’s injury was one of total innocence. He was simply sitting down to play with his kids,
Right-hander Javier Assad, who was working out of the Cubs bullpen, is the likely replacement of Boyd’s May 8 start.
As Newsday.com reported, “We”re feeling for Matty, said outfielder Ian Happ…I think we’ve had a lot of news so far this year that we’ve worked through. But I think the position player group is experienced and has been together and deep, and I think that was always going to carry us through 162 games.”
If Happ is correct, the offense can carry the Cubs until they can return to full strength.
The Cubs rotation is already without righty Cade Horton (elbow surgery) and Justin Steele, who is out after his own elbow surgery.
Boyd, 35, signed with the Cubs as a free agent on December 7, 2024. He made the All Star team in his first year with Chicago.
Matthew Boyd had been pitching for the Cleveland Guardians from June 24, 2024, following a stint with the Detroit Tigers.
The Guardians signed Boyd following Tommy John surgery in June 2023.
Boyd made 31 starts last year, pitching to a 14-8 record, with a 3.21 ERA, and 1.09 WHIP in 32 starts, covering 179.2 innings.
This year, Boyd had completed 5 starts. He had a 6.00 ERA, and 1.29 WHIP in 24 innings.
Boyd’s record this year makes one wonder if Boyd was dealing with knee related issues while pitching?
Was sitting down to play with his kids the final movement that caused the meniscus issue?
According to fangraphs.com, the Cubs have a rotation that includes:
Shota Imanaga-LHP
Edward Cabrera-RHP
Jameson Taillon-RHP
Colin Rea-RHP
and possibly right-handed Assad, who is currently a long reliever.
If, in fact, Assad takes the ball as part of the Cubs rotation, it may leave the team very vulnerable regarding the “next man up” for their starting rotation.
If Assad doesn’t get the nod as the replacement for Boyd, who does?
If one of their current starters goes down with injury, what happens?
Those issues face General Manager Hawkins.
But Major League Baseball teams have to plan accordingly. They have to plan ahead in case they need starting rotation help.
For what is likely going to be a month or more, lefty starter Matthew Boyd will be out of the Chicago Cubs rotation with a meniscus issue in his left knee.
The knee required surgery, and one can’t guarantee a complete return to form after any type of surgery. And one must remember that Boyd isn’t that far removed from Tommy John elbow surgery.
Hey Chicago, whataya say, the Cubs are winning every day.
For now, the Chicago Cubs hope to press on with what has been a joyous season to date, for their players and their fans.
But the first place Chicago Cubs must navigate their division with starting pitching issues hovering over the franchise.
Update: Ben Brown will making the May 8 start for the Cubs.
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