Matthew Boyd, the Chicago Cubs' veteran left-handed starter, is headed for surgery after hurting the meniscus in his left knee. The injury happened at home while Boyd was playing with his children, according to team officials, and the Cubs have placed him on the injured list at a time when their rotation could hardly afford another hit.
Diagnosis and how it happened
Manager Craig Counsell shared the diagnosis with reporters before the game at Wrigley Field, calling it a meniscus issue that will require surgery, according to NBC Chicago. MLB.com reports that Boyd was moved to the 15-day injured list and notes that team officials described the play-with-the-kids mishap as a fluke. The Cubs have not committed to any specific timetable for his return.
Roster move: Thornton called up
To cover the loss, Chicago selected the contract of right-hander Trent Thornton from Triple-A Iowa and designated Charlie Barnes for assignment to clear a roster spot, according to MLB Trade Rumors. Thornton gives the Cubs another experienced option as they try to patch together a pitching staff that suddenly has very little cushion.
Rotation already stretched thin
Boyd’s injury piles onto an already ugly list. Cade Horton is out for the season after Tommy John surgery, and Justin Steele recently suffered a setback in his rehab, according to CBS Sports. With those blows, the Cubs have almost no margin for error in the rotation and may have to lean harder on relievers in spot starts or dip again into Triple-A for help. Javier Assad and others have already bounced between roles, and more shuffling appears likely.
What’s next for Boyd and the club
The surgery will ultimately determine how long Boyd is out. Outlets including MLB Trade Rumors note that the recovery timeline is unclear and could stretch beyond a quick stint on the injured list. Counsell described the setback as abrupt and, as he and Boyd went over imaging and next steps, said, “He woke up this morning a healthy player,” according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The Cubs are expected to weigh options such as moving Javier Assad back into the rotation or leaning more on Ben Brown and other bullpen arms while they sort out a longer-term plan.
Short-term schedule impact
In the immediate term, the injury blows up at least one turn in the rotation. Boyd had been lined up to start Friday’s series opener in Arlington against the Texas Rangers but will not make that start, according to NBC Chicago. The Cubs say they will update Boyd’s status after surgery and announce which pitchers will cover his upcoming turns once they finalize a plan.
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