Free-agent veteran left-hander Matthew Boyd agreed to a two-year, $29 million deal with the Chicago Cubs on Monday. Boyd will make $14.5 million per year plus $1 million in incentives ($500,000 per season). The 33-year-old southpaw was recovering from Tommy John surgery early in 2024 and didn't sign with the Cleveland Guardians until June. When he finally debuted, he was effective on the mound in Cleveland, going 2-2 with a 2.72 ERA (3.29 FIP), a 1.13 WHIP, 46 strikeouts and 13 walks in 39 2/3 frames over his eight starts during the regular season. In the postseason, Boyd was even better, giving up only one run in 12 innings pitched. Although Boyd hasn't made more than 15 regular-season starts in a single season since 2019, he'll give the Cubbies some valuable starting experience for their starting rotation to open the 2025 campaign.
Cleveland Guardians left-hander Matthew Boyd will make the start in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series against the New York Yankees on Thursday at Progressive Field. Boyd will try to prevent the Yankees from taking a commanding 3-0 lead in the series. The 33-year-old veteran southpaw will try to keep the good times rolling in his third career postseason start after blanking the division-rival Detroit Tigers over 6 2/3 innings in his two starts against them in the AL Division Series. In those starts, Boyd allowed five hits, walked three and struck out 10 batters. He made only eight starts during the regular season for Cleveland but was solid with a 2.72 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 46 K's. Boyd allowed three earned runs on four walks and two K's in 5 1/3 innings in his lone outing against the Yankees back on Aug. 20 in the Bronx.
Cleveland Guardians left-hander Matthew Boyd will make the start for Cleveland on Saturday in the decisive Game 5 of the American League Division Series against the division-rival Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field, according to manager Stephen Vogt. The 33-year-old southpaw will be going on regular rest in the winner-take-all contest after going 4 2/3 shutout frames with five strikeouts in the team's Game 2 loss on Monday. Boyd will be opposed by Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal, who is the overwhelming favorite to win the AL Cy Young this year after winning the AL pitching Triple Crown. He'll be hoping to replicate his performance his last time out against his former team. Boyd only made eight starts during the regular season for the Guardians but was on point with a 2.72 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP in his 39 2/3 innings while walking 13 and striking out 46. He certainly doesn't have the type of upside as Skubal, though.
Cleveland Guardians left-hander Matthew Boyd is expected to start in Game 2 of the American League Division Series on Monday against his old team, the Detroit Tigers, at Progressive Field. It will be a tough assignment while being opposed by Tigers lefty Tarik Skubal, who is the overwhelming front-runner to win the American League Cy Young in 2024. A shoulder injury delayed Boyd's 2024 debut with Cleveland until August, limiting him to just eight starts (39 2/3 innings). He was strong in those eight starts, though, only allowing 16 runs (12 earned) while walking 13 and striking out 46 batters. Boyd did not face the Tigers in any of his eight starts this year. His inclusion on the ALDS roster for Cleveland has left right-hander Ben Lively as the odd man out. In Boyd's eight starts, he never allowed more than three earned runs, but he also hasn't gone beyond 4 1/4 innings since Sept. 6. He'll be a DFS sleeper for Monday's slate of games.
Cleveland Guardians starter Matthew Boyd pitched well on Wednesday as his team beat the Chicago White Sox 6-4. Boyd went 4 1/3 innings, gave up four runs (one earned) on six hits, walked two and struck out nine. He did not factor into the decision. Boyd, who missed the end of last year and most of this year recovering from elbow surgery, has been very good since making his season debut on August 13. In six starts (33 IP), he is (2-1) with a 2.18 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, and a 7:35 BB: K. Boyd's strong return brings promise to the Guardians, as they are in for a tight (and exciting) September and October. The southpaw can be used as a streamer in his next start on Tuesday against the Minnesota Twins.
Matthew Boyd Activated And Making Season Debut On Tuesday
The Cleveland Guardians activated left-hander Matthew Boyd (elbow) from the 15-day injured list on Tuesday and optioned right-hander Peter Strzelecki to Triple-A Columbus in a corresponding move. Boyd will make his 2024 debut with the Guardians and start on Tuesday against the visiting Chicago Cubs at Progressive Field. The 33-year-old veteran has a decent matchup on tap against the Cubbies, but we still wouldn't recommend him as a fantasy streamer in his first start back off the long road to recovery from Tommy John surgery. However, Boyd looked great during his minor-league rehab assignment, posting a 0.83 ERA with 27 strikeouts in 21 2/3 innings. Expect Boyd to be limited from a pitch-count perspective in his 2024 debut.
Matthew Boyd To Make Another Rehab Start On Wednesday
Cleveland Guardians left-hander Matthew Boyd (elbow) will make another minor-league rehab start on Wednesday with Triple-A Columbus in what could be his final rehab outing before joining the big-league roster. Boyd has already made four rehab starts as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery, but it's unclear whether he'll be used as a starter or a reliever in his eventual debut with the team with Alex Cobb (hip, finger, shoulder) also nearing his 2024 debut. The 33-year-old southpaw did have a decent 24.1% strikeout rate in 15 starts for the Detroit Tigers last year, but it came with a 5.45 ERA and 1.32 WHIP over 71 innings before his elbow injury. At best, Boyd will probably be a starting option for fantasy managers in AL-only leagues down the stretch if he makes starts for the Guardians.
Cleveland Guardians left-hander Matthew Boyd (elbow) was sent out on a minor-league rehab assignment on Tuesday to the rookie-level Arizona Complex League. Boyd was signed by Cleveland in June and is on the 15-day injured list as he recovers from Tommy John surgery that he had in June of last year. It's good news that the veteran 33-year-old southpaw is now embarking on a rehab assignment, but he's still probably a month away from being an option for the big-league roster. It's unclear what role the Guardians envision for Boyd when he's healthy, but 160 of his 174 appearances in the big leagues over the last nine seasons have come in a starting role. He went 5-5 with a 5.45 ERA and 1.32 WHIP with 73 strikeouts and 25 walks in 15 starts for the Tigers in 2023 before having Tommy John surgery. Boyd is unlikely to be much of a fantasy option in mixed leagues the rest of the way in 2024.
Free-agent left-hander Matthew Boyd (elbow) agreed to an undisclosed major-league deal with the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday, according to a source. The deal is pending a physical. Boyd had Tommy John surgery on his left elbow last June and won't immediately join the Guardians' big-league roster, and it's unclear how long it will before he could be pitching in games for Cleveland. At the very least, he'll give the Guardians some veteran pitching depth. Boyd has nine seasons of major-league experience after originally being drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the sixth round of the 2013 draft out of Oregon State. In 15 starts for the Detroit Tigers last year before getting injured, he went 5-5 with a 5.45 ERA and 1.32 WHIP with a 73:25 K:BB in 71 innings. Fantasy managers, even in the deepest of leagues, shouldn't expect much from Boyd the rest of the 2024 season.
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Matthew Boyd (elbow) has been placed on the 60-day injured list on Tuesday. That is not good news after Boyd exited early during Monday's start against the Texas Rangers due to elbow discomfort. Now, it appears the left-hander is set to miss the rest of the season due to a partial sprain of his left UCL. Boyd is expected to undergo Tommy John surgery. The Tigers rotation takes another hit with Eduardo Rodriguez (finger) and Tarik Skubal (elbow) already sidelined. Luckily, right-hander Matt Manning (foot) is set to return on Tuesday, so his return will soften the blow of Boyd. The expectation is that Boyd won't be able to pitch again until mid-season of 2024.
Matthew Boyd
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Cubs
