Cubs Rely on Matthew Boyd for Postseason Opener Against Padres

The Chicago Cubs will once more turn to left-hander Matthew Boyd to lead their postseason charge, starting with the Game 1 opener against the San Diego Padres on Tuesday at Petco Park. Boyd, having previously started Game 1 in last year’s wild-card series against the Padres, is set to take the mound again. Despite the option to start right-hander Kevin Gausman, the Cubs chose Boyd for the significant matchup.

Boyd delivered a solid performance against the Padres last year, allowing only one run in 4 1/3 innings at Wrigley Field. Manager Craig Counsell highlighted Boyd’s steadiness and routine post-recovery this season, stating, “Matthew’s experienced and had good experiences last year with playoffs. We look for him to perform similarly tomorrow.”

Since his return from meniscus surgery on June 25, Boyd has maintained a 3.42 ERA across his final 17 starts. He allowed three or fewer earned runs in 12 of these outings. Counsell remains tight-lipped about the starting options for Games 2 and 3, though Gausman is anticipated to pitch sometime during the series. Gausman’s left shoulder injury from his last regular-season start poses uncertainty for his immediate availability.

The Cubs plan to include 12 pitchers on their wild-card roster. Left-hander Shota Imanaga is likely to have a role, potentially as a starter or reliever, while right-hander Clay Holmes, who struggled recently, is expected to offer significant innings either as a starter or from the bullpen. Counsell emphasized the importance of exploiting matchups effectively across the best-of-three series.

“I look at these games with urgency; you have 27 outs, and we need to secure those outs in any order, whether by starter, reliever, or closer,” Counsell commented.

The Cubs’ next moves hinge on the outcome of Tuesday’s game, potentially requiring all pitchers to be ready for Game 2 if a win is necessary. Counsell stated, “Winning is the bottom line; how we achieve that doesn’t matter aesthetically. Our strategy must adapt to the series dynamics.”

This postseason opener also acts as a rematch against the Padres, but the shift in venue to Petco Park presents a challenge; the Padres boast a strong home record of 51-30 this year. The Cubs remain undecided regarding Alex Bregman’s role at third base due to his recent facial fractures. His grounder practice during live batting was promising and could energize the lineup.

Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong expressed enthusiasm over Bregman’s return, noting, “He inspires with his dedication and recovery. Despite his setbacks, his comeback is appreciated yet unsurprising.”