Cubs starting pitcher Matthew Boyd needs to undergo surgery on his left knee to repair a meniscus injury, manager Craig Counsell told reporters Wednesday. The injury happened when Boyd was sitting down to play with his kids, Counsell said.
Impact on the Cubs Rotation
Boyd hasn't been effective this season. He's pitched to a 6.00 ERA and 1.29 WHIP in 24 innings. The injury hurts the Cubs' depth, as they entered the season with eight viable starters.
Cade Horton is out for the season, and Justin Steele suffered a setback in his attempted return from Tommy John surgery. Until Boyd or Steele returns, the Cubs will rely on just five starters:
- Shota Imanaga
- Edward Cabrera
- Jameson Taillon
- Colin Rea
- Javier Assad
Ben Brown is too valuable in his bullpen role to move back to the rotation, and top minor-league option Jaxon Wiggins is currently injured.
Cubs Still Rolling
Despite the rotation challenges, the Cubs have weathered the storm. They rank ninth in the majors with a 3.90 rotation ERA and entered play Wednesday within arm's length of the best record in baseball at 24-12. It's tied for the second-best start in club history, trailing only the 2016 World Series champion Cubs. The lead in the NL Central is 2.5 games.