Cubs Facing Troubling Development After Unfortunate News

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Gavin Groe | Last updated Jun 10, 2026 7:34 PM ET

The Chicago Cubs starting rotation has been a problem this season. The club added right-hander Edward Cabrera this offseason in a trade with the Miami Marlins, yet he has not lived up to expectations.

But that is just part of the problem. Injuries have been the biggest issue for Craig Counsell's group.

Last year's breakout rookie, Cade Horton, will not pitch for the rest of the season, and two of Chicago's best arms in Matthew Boyd and Jameson Taillon are currently on the injured list.

Boyd was placed on the injured list with a biceps strain in early April, while Taillon suffered a left hamstring injury just days ago. And now, just as one of them was about to return, the Cubs received an unfortunate update.

Counsell announced ahead of Wednesday's game against the Colorado Rockies that Boyd felt shoulder soreness after his most recent rehab start and continued to feel that discomfort after a bullpen session.

As a result, not only will Boyd not return as previously anticipated this weekend against the San Francisco Giants, but the team is taking a cautious approach with him going forward (h/t Vinnie Duber of The Chicago Sun-Times).

Craig Counsell said Matthew Boyd was feeling shoulder soreness after his most recent rehab start and that he wasn’t feeling how he wanted to after a bullpen session Tuesday.

The Cubs are slowing down Boyd’s return from the IL, and he won’t start this weekend in San Francisco.
— Vinnie Duber (@VinnieDuber) June 10, 2026

This is especially troubling for the Cubs for several reasons. The first is that with Boyd expected back, the rotation would have at least five capable arms. Now that is not the case, and they will be left to rely on the struggling Cabrera, Shota Imanaga, Ben Brown and Colin Rea.

The second is that the Cubs have struggled mightily since the start of May. They did not win a series during the month and sit at 34-33, a disappointing place for a team with legitimate playoff aspirations.

The third is that even though Boyd has struggled this year, he has proven he is a capable arm. In 2025, he earned an All-Star selection and posted a 3.21 ERA in 31 starts.

Losing a pitcher of that caliber for longer than expected is a big blow, and until he is back and healthy, the Cubs rotation will remain one of the more concerning groups in the National League.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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