Latest Matthew Boyd gem highlights Cubs’ arms in thick of playoff race: ‘Pitching is what drives things’

First publishedAug 9, 22:23 UTC

Last updatedAug 10, 00:00 UTC · 10m ago

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Chicago Sun-Times6Latest Matthew Boyd gem highlights Cubs’ arms in thick of playoff race: ‘Pitching is what drives things’Aug 9, 22:23 UTCOpen ↗

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<p>KANSAS CITY – Seven innings is getting to be the norm for Matthew Boyd.</p><p>The <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs" >Cubs</a>’ front office <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/08/03/cubs-mlb-trade-deadline-jed-hoyer-top-prospects-trades-kevin-gausman-clay-holmes-ryan-zeferjahn-braxton-garrett-tyrone-taylor" >got aggressive at the trade deadline</a> and added two starters to the top of the rotation. But Boyd, the 2025 All-Star lefty, is showing they might have <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/07/01/cubs-matthew-boyd-all-star-ace-starting-rotation-pitching-injuries-craig-counsell-pete-crow-armstrong-alex-bregman-thumbs-down" >already had an ace</a>, the type of pitcher they can be confident giving the ball for Game 1 of a playoff series.</p><p>Boyd’s latest gem was seven innings of two-run ball in the Cubs’ 10-2 drubbing of the Royals on Sunday, another strong performance in a string of them since returning from the injured list in late June. He’s gone seven innings in three of his last four starts, pitching into the seventh in five of his last six.</p><p>Since getting back on the mound after a nearly two-month layoff with a knee injury, he’s got a 2.43 ERA in nine starts.</p><p>“He’s just been pitching so well since he’s come off the injured list and really been a big boost to what we’ve done in the starting rotation,” manager Craig Counsell said.</p><p>Even though Boyd has looked like an ace, he’s been just one part of a collective starting effort that’s <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/07/30/cubs-mlb-trade-deadline-pitching-starting-rotation-matthew-boyd-shota-imanaga-colin-rea-david-peterson-javier-assad-tarik-skubal" >been among the best in baseball</a> for some time. Coming into Sunday, the Cubs had a 3.31 starters ERA that was best in the National League and third best in the sport since June 11.</p><p>With a challenging stretch of <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs/2026/08/08/cubs-pete-crow-armstrong-17-games-17-days-ian-happ-homer-clay-holmes-debut-injury-royals" >17 games in 17 days</a> behind them, the Cubs can look back on their rotation as driving the bus to a 12-5 record, posting a 2.90 ERA since July 24.</p><p>With Boyd and fellow lefties Shota Imanaga and David Peterson joining forces with trade-deadline additions Kevin Gausman and Clay Holmes, the Cubs can be excited about what awaits the rest of the regular season and into the playoffs.</p><p>“There’s a lot of really good arms, a lot of experience,” Holmes said Sunday.

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  Latest Matthew Boyd gem highlights Cubs’ arms in thick of playoff race: ‘Pitching is what drives things’

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