Matthew Boyd’s Quiet Dominance Continues to Anchor Cubs’ Rotation

When the Chicago Cubs signed Matthew Boyd in the offseason, they expected stability. What they’ve gotten is something even better. Boyd has given them consistency that borders on the elite level so far this year.

On July 1st, under the lights at Wrigley Field, Boyd spun seven strong innings against his former team, the Cleveland Guardians, allowing just five hits and two earned runs. He struck out five, walked one, and led the Cubs to a 5–2 victory that steadied a team looking to find its footing heading into the second half. This is the prototypical Boyd start we have become accustomed to.

Leading the Rotation by Example

This was Boyd’s sixth quality start in his last seven outings and his team leading 12th of the season. He improved to 8–3 with a 2.65 ERA and 1.08 WHIP across 98.2 innings. These are numbers that are beginning to draw legitimate All-Star attention.

His fastball hovered around 93 mph, but his success was rooted in pitch sequencing and command. Boyd worked in sliders and changeups with precision, rarely giving Cleveland a chance to square anything up. The left-hander generated soft contact, kept his pitch count low, and gave the bullpen a much-needed breather with five crucial games still ahead of them on this homestand.

Stability Chicago Has Been Searching For

More importantly, Boyd followed up Jameson Taillon’s strong outing the night before, giving the Cubs back-to-back quality starts for the first time in over two weeks. In a rotation that has dealt with injuries, inconsistency, and heavy bullpen usage, Boyd has become the dependable rock this staff needs.

This wasn’t just a good start; it was a microcosm of his season.

An All-Star Caliber Arm

In our recent All-Star preview, Boyd was named among the Cubs’ most deserving representatives, and Tuesday’s outing only strengthened that case. Whether he starts the game or not, he’s clearly pitched like an ace. The Cubs may not have a Cy Young front runner, but Boyd is giving you something that is underrated: stability.

Keeping the Cubs in the Hunt

Boyd’s not flashy, but he’s been exactly what this team has needed. His ability to set the tone, eat innings, and keep the Cubs in games every fifth day has been critical, especially with other starters faltering and the offense hitting their lulls at times.

As July ramps up and the playoff picture starts to sharpen, Chicago will need even more from Boyd. That said, based on what we’ve seen so far, there’s every reason to believe he’ll keep delivering.

If the Cubs find themselves playing meaningful baseball in September, it will be in large part because of Matthew Boyd, the quiet ace who just keeps showing up.

Cubs' fans, how high do you rank Matthew Boyd among this season’s MVPs?

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