Chicago Cubs desperately need Matthew Boyd to be Matthew Boyd

The Chicago Cubs, at this point of the season, were supposed to be filthy rich in starting pitching depth, rocking a five-man rotation of Matthew Boyd, Cade Horton, Edward Cabrera, Jameson Taillon, and Shota Imanaga, with Justin Steele just about to return to his spot. And, just in case, the team had Colin Rea, Javier Assad, and Ben Brown in reserve.

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Well, things most certainly didn’t turn out as planned.

For one, Cade Horton was lost for the season in just his second start and had to undergo Tommy John surgery. Steele suffered a setback in his own recovery from elbow surgery and might now be forced to settle for a 2027 date for his full comeback. Cabrera and Taillon are currently on the IL with hamstring strains. Brown, who had been a surprise breakthrough star as a rotation fill-in, is now gone for an extended period of time due to a neck injury. Last year’s ace and this year’s Opening Day starter, Boyd, meanwhile, already has two IL stints under his belt.

Matthew Boyd is back

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But it looks as though Boyd may have turned a corner on this season as he came back from surgery to repair a damaged meniscus. It certainly looked that way on Tuesday as the 35-year-old blanked the Baltimore Orioles through six innings, allowing just three hits while striking out seven.

Since his return from the IL, the veteran southpaw is 2-0 with a 1.72 ERA in three outings.

And everyone has been quick to put him back firmly atop a ragtag rotation now consisting of Rea, Assad, Imanaga, and David Peterson below him. They’re eager to welcome him back as the ace because, well, they really, really need him to be the ace.

“His presence is very important for us,” Manager Craig Counsell told reporters after the Cubs’ 5-2 win at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. “That means it’s a guy that makes every start, that you can count on, that single-handedly won some games for us. He goes deep into games. That’s the ability that we sorely need and are going to need for the second half.”

Having Boyd back right now is also heavy with symbolism for a Cubs pitching staff that has been absolutely besieged with injuries and misfortune.

Maybe the tide is turning at just the right time?

Bad luck fading?

Boyd has been cooking. Taillon is due back soon, possibly after one more minor league rehab outing. Cabrera and closer Daniel Palencia should be back in early August. Even bullpen assets such as Hoby Milner, Phil Maton, and Riley Martin should be ready for the fiercest part of the second-half pennant race.

Plus, there’s hope in who the Cubs may acquire prior to the August 3 MLB trade deadline.

For now, though, having Boyd back healthy and dealing is the immediate focus.

The time on the IL may even be a plus for a pitcher with a significant history of injury and one who seemed to fade late last season under the workload. Heading into the second half of the season with only 39.2 innings logged so far, Boyd’s arm should be fairly fresh for the upcoming push.

“I like to think I’m fresh in that regard,” Boyd told media after Tuesday’s outing. “Just go out there and attack every pitch until Craig takes the ball from me. I’m doing everything I can to be ready every time the ball’s given to me.”

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