Cubs' Matthew Boyd faces his old team as Guardians visit

In 2024, Matthew Boyd revived his career as a member of the Cleveland Guardians. He's managed to build on that comeback this season with the Chicago Cubs.

Amid a stretch of five quality starts in six outings, the left-hander tries to extend the offensive struggles of his former team when the Cubs open a three-game set with the visiting Guardians on Tuesday night.

Recovering from Tommy John surgery, Boyd (7-3, 2.65 ERA) signed a one-year deal with Cleveland nearly one year ago. He proved vital down the stretch for the Guardians, going 2-2 with a 2.72 ERA during eight regular-season starts and had an 0.77 ERA over three in the playoffs.

With Chicago, the 34-year-old Boyd essentially picked up where he left off, and has been brilliant in his last six starts (3-1, 1.49 ERA). He yielded three hits without a walk over six scoreless innings during Wednesday's 8-0 win at St. Louis.

"Regardless of the day, I know what I expect of myself," said Boyd, who boasts a team-leading 11 quality starts.

"Regardless of what happened the day before, regardless of what tomorrow potentially may bring, what I do doesn't change. What I expect of myself when the ball is in my hand doesn't change."

While the Cubs have dropped seven of the last 11 following Sunday's 2-0 loss at Houston, and hold a slim two-game lead in the National League Central, Boyd's buddies in Cleveland are currently in much worse shape.

The Guardians were 29-22 on May 24, but have averaged 3.0 runs while going 11-20 since. During their current four-game losing streak, Cleveland has been outscored 27-6 and shut out three times.

Cleveland managed just three hits and made two errors during Sunday's 7-0 home loss to St. Louis. However, manager Stephen Vogt remains the optimist -- at least publicly.

"We've got 13 games in a row coming up after this off day (Monday)," Vogt said. "We have an opportunity to get it rolling, and that's the way I look at it.

"This is a really talented team. I believe in each and every one of these guys, and I know we're going to break out of it."

Cleveland star Steven Kwan is 2-for-21 in the last five games, but 9-for-17 in the last four on the road. Meanwhile, fellow star Jose Ramiez is 2-for-19 in his last five overall.

Including the 2016 World Series, Ramirez is just a .188 hitter in 13 career games at Wrigley Field.

Scheduled Guardians starter Gavin Williams (5-3, 3.68 ERA) will make his first appearance against the Cubs. The right-hander was charged with four runs (three earned) while yielding five hits and three walks in 5 1/3 innings versus Toronto on Wednesday.

Williams opposes a Cubs offense that is second in the majors with 453 runs scored, though Chicago has been held to two or fewer 11 times during its current 15-14 stretch.

Center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong has blossomed into a star this season with 21 homers and 62 RBIs, but he's 3-for-24 in the last six contests. However, outfield mate Kyle Tucker is batting .291 and has hit four of his 17 home runs in the last nine games.