Boyd had a $15 million mutual option for 2027 but decided to decline it in the hopes of landing a multi-year deal before a potential lockout impacts the MLB salary structure. Boyd was limited to 126 2/3 innings this season due to injury, but he registered a 3.91 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and 18.5 percent strikeout rate. He figures to have a good deal of interest given his experience and solid production over the last three seasons. The Cubs have now seen Boyd, Clay Holmes, Shota Imanaga, Kevin Gausman, and David Peterson all become free agents, so they will need to rebuild an entire rotation.
Boyd allowed three homers, including a leadoff homer to Fernando Tatis Jr. He also gave up dingers to Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts in a shaky — at very best — outing for the 35-year-old. Boyd would likely start Game 2 of the NLDS against the Brewers if the Cubs advance, but they’ll need to win these next two games on the road.
With Kevin Gausman’s status a little bit up in the air, Boyd seemed like the one certainty to get a start for the Cubs in the Wild Card. He’ll be pitching on four days’ rest after limiting the Marlins to one run over seven innings last time out. He also pitched Game 1 of last year’s Wild Card against the Padres, allowing one run over 4 1/3 innings in what turned into a 3-1 win for the Cubs.
Boyd walked two batters on the day while punching out three. The lone tally against him came on an RBI single off the bat of Jakob Marsee in the third inning. Aside from that, Boyd was in complete control. The 35-year-old southpaw got nine whiffs on 90 pitches on the day, registering a CSW of 24 percent. He finishes the regular season with a 10-5 record, 3.91 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and a 96/39 K/BB ratio over 126 2/3 innings in his 22 starts.
The decision bumps Clay Holmes back to Friday’s doubleheader against the Red Sox with David Peterson expected to start the other contest. It’s a nice break for fantasy managers as Boyd draws a much easier matchup to close out the regular season.
Boyd worked through four scoreless innings, then gave up a pair of runs on a walk, two hits, and an error in the fifth. Boyd would end his day after five innings at 71 pitches. He struck out four batters. The 35-year-old left-hander will take a 4.06 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and a 93/37 K/BB ratio across 119 2/3 innings into a start against the Red Sox in Boston on Friday.
Boyd gave up seven hits, walked two and struck out three in his fourth straight loss. He was 8-1 with a 3.50 ERA on this day a month ago. The Cubs have lost all six of his starts since, with Boyd giving up 22 earned runs over 35 innings. He’ll face the Reds next time out.
Boyd hadn’t pitched into the eighth this season, but the Cubs thought he could do it after seven innings of one-run ball today. And then he walked Garrett Mitchell and gave up a double to Joey Ortiz. Ryan Zejerjahn took over at that point and allowed both runners to score before also giving up a run of his own, putting the Cubs in a 4-2 hole. It leaves Boyd 0-3 over his last five starts, though the most recent three have been quite solid (3.44 ERA). He’ll likely face the Pirates on Sunday.
Boyd allowed one run through five, but he gave up a single and a double in the sixth and both runners came around to score after he was lifted. The result upped Boyd’s ERA to 4.05, but he was perfectly fine. Maybe he’ll get more support Sunday against the Marlins.
Boyd struck out five as he lowered his ERA below 4 with the quality start. His one mistake was an opposite-field solo shot off the bat of Jordan Lawlar in the sixth. Homers have been an issue lately, as he’ll finish August with nine allowed. Limiting the long ball was one of the keys to his 3.21 ERA last season. He’ll draw a tough matchup against the Brewers next time out.
After getting three runs to work with in the first, Boyd surrendered four runs in the second, with Cal Raleigh’s three-run homer serving as the big blow. His ERA has jumped from 3.50 to 4.15 while he’s given up 11 runs in his last two starts. Still, his stuff is fine, and he remains a solid choice in mixed leagues. He’s due to face the Diamondbacks next week.
Boyd issued a walk and hit a batter to start the first inning. A run would come in to score on a groundout before Joshua Báez took Boyd deep for a two-run blast. After two scoreless innings, Báez got to Boyd once again with a solo shot in the fourth. Pitching in the sixth, Boyd surrendered the third homer of the game for Báez in the rookie’s debut. A solo homer by Blaze Jordan would knock him from the game, ending his day with a 4.02 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and a 68/26 K/BB ratio across 85 pitches. He’ll look to bounce back against the Mariners in Seattle on Friday.
Boyd only struck out three, continuing a recent theme of strong results despite few Ks. The veteran lefty had a 31 percent strikeout rate with a 6.00 ERA before suffering an early-season injury, and his strikeout rate has been cut in half since he returned. However, he’s been much more effective at preventing runs during this stretch, throwing fewer four-seamers in favor of more breaking pitches. Pitching in front of a genuinely elite defense helps, too. He’ll aim to keep rolling next time out, at home against the Cardinals.
Boyd’s outing got off to an inauspicious start as Tommy Edman connected for a three-run homer in the opening frame to put him behind early. Fortunately, Chicago’s offense got in on the action, clobbering four homers of their own to supply him with a touchdown and a field goal worth of run support. He finished with three strikeouts and only issued one walk. He’ll factor into Chicago’s pitching plan against the Royals this weekend.
Boyd and Cardinals’ starter Dustin May traded zeroes in this pitcher’s duel that went to extra innings scoreless. Boyd was the better of the two though with his second straight seven inning start. In fact, he completed at least six innings in all five of his July outings and has put a long trip to the injured list through May and June behind him. His command wasn’t even great in this game, but his trusted changeup got him out of trouble when he needed a boost and he now has a 3.41 ERA through 66 innings on the season. Next up is a two-start week against the Dodgers and Royals.
Boyd was solid in this one, retiring the first six batters he faced to begin his outing. He would escape a jam in the third inning when Ian Happ gunned down Henry Davis at home when Davis attempted to score on a sacrifice fly, and gave up his lone run in the game in the fifth inning on an RBI single by Davis to bring home Marcel Ozuna. Boyd has allowed one earned run or fewer in three of his last four starts and is scheduled to make one more start this month. He’ll next toe the rubber on Wednesday at the Cardinals.
The damage came on Kody Clemens’ solo shot in the second. Boyd allowed only two other hits and struck out four. He’s 4-0 with a 2.57 ERA in five starts since returning from a knee injury last month. He’ll pitch on the road in Pittsburgh next time out.
Boyd allowed three hits, walked two and struck out seven. He’s 2-0 with a 1.72 ERA in three starts since coming off the IL and 4-1 with a 4.31 ERA in eight starts overall this season. He’ll finish off the first half for the Cubs with a start in Cincinnati on Sunday.
Boyd’s start was the second since coming off the injured list, and it wasn’t as effective as the first one where he threw 4 2/3 innings of scoreless baseball against the Mets. The 35-year-old gave up eight hits, and while he didn’t walk anyone, he clearly didn’t fool the San Diego lineup with just two strikeouts in the contest. This is much more in line with how Boyd was pitching before his back and knee ailments, and a far cry from the hurler he was for the majority of 2025. He’ll look to get back on track against the Orioles on Tuesday, assuming there’s no changes to the rotation order.
Boyd didn’t go the necessary five innings to qualify for a win, but he left with the game tied at 0-0, anyway. The 35-year-old made his first start since May 3 due to shoulder and knee trouble, and while there were command issues as seen in four walks and 46-of-76 pitches for landing for strikes, he was able to procure four strikeouts and kept the Mets off the board in one of his best starts of the year. He’s set to face the Padres next week.
