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Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ian Happ walks off the Pirates on Father's Day
Cubs 2025 Surge: Kyle Tucker Contract Rumors, Pitching Plans & Division Domination Dive into the Chicago Cubs' electrifying 2025 season with ESPN's Jesse Rogers on Big League Buzz! From Kyle Tucker's superstar impact to Craig Counsell's game-changing strategies, we unpack why the Cubs are poised to dominate the NL Central. Will they go all-in at the trade deadline for Zach Gallen or Merrill Kelly? Can Pete Crow-Armstrong become a top-tier hitter? Plus, get the inside scoop on the Cubs' playoff potential and long-term plans. Don't miss this deep dive into Chicago's hottest MLB storylines! Subscribe, like, and comment—are you a believer in the Cubs' 2025 run? 17:40 Now Playing Paused Ad Playing
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Matthew Boyd has been a key performer in his 1st season with the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs pitcher Matthew Boyd delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Matt Marton) CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs are on top of the NL Central with a depleted rotation. The quiet consistency of Matthew Boyd is a major reason for their success. Boyd has pitched at least six innings and allowed three earned runs or fewer in 10 of his 14 starts with his new team. The left-hander tossed six innings of one-hit ball in Saturday's 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Advertisement 'He continues to just do an excellent job and put us in position to win games,' manager Craig Counsell said. Chicago is missing three key starting pitchers because of injuries. Shota Imanaga could return by the end of June, but Justin Steele is out for the season after he had elbow surgery. Javier Assad is trying to come back from an oblique issue. Amid those issues with the rotation, Boyd just keeps sailing along for the Cubs — particularly at Wrigley Field. He is 6-0 with a 2.25 ERA in six home starts this year. 'Pitching at Wrigley is really special,' Boyd said. 'Getting to play in this environment, every outing, you know, you go out there, there's so much energy from the fans. It feels like a playoff-type outing. I'm really grateful to call it home right now.' Advertisement The 34-year-old Boyd finalized a $29 million, two-year contract with Chicago in December. His late grandfather, John Boyd, grew up in Chicago and was a big Cubs fan. Matthew Boyd had Tommy John surgery in June 2023, but he returned last year with Cleveland and went 2-2 with a 2.72 ERA in eight starts with the Guardians. He also made three postseason starts for the AL Central champions, allowing one run while striking out 14 in 11 2/3 innings. 'He's got a lot of different ways to get guys out, whether it's the fastball, the changeup, slider, curveball," Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson said. 'It's kind of a little bit of a funky arm slot. He's a true pro in ways that he wants to get guys out. So you know when he's out there you know you got a chance to win the game. ... He's been awesome for us.' The only hit Boyd allowed on Saturday was Andrew McCutchen's one-out drive in the first inning for his seventh homer. He retired 14 in a row after McCutchen went deep. Advertisement 'You just go keep pitching, right?' Boyd said. 'Whether it's a home run or a walk or even a strikeout, something good, you just continue to go out and keep doing what you expect of yourself when the ball's in your hand.' Tommy Pham broke up the string when he reached on a leadoff walk in the sixth, but Boyd promptly picked him off. Boyd has picked off a baserunner in a career-high three consecutive games, tying Rick Sutcliffe and Bill Hands for the franchise record. He has a major league-high six on the season, one more than Yankees left-hander Max Fried. Boyd said Bellevue College coach Mark Yoshino in Washington taught him his pick-off move when he was a kid. 'It's always been something I've put a focus on. ... It's something that you just want to stay sharp on,' Boyd said. 'You don't want to fall into weird patterns.' ___ AP MLB:
Washington Post
a day ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
Matthew Boyd has been a key performer in his 1st season with the Chicago Cubs
CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs are on top of the NL Central with a depleted rotation. The quiet consistency of Matthew Boyd is a major reason for their success. Boyd has pitched at least six innings and allowed three earned runs or fewer in 10 of his 14 starts with his new team. The left-hander tossed six innings of one-hit ball in Saturday's 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Associated Press
a day ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Matthew Boyd has been a key performer in his 1st season with the Chicago Cubs
CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs are on top of the NL Central with a depleted rotation. The quiet consistency of Matthew Boyd is a major reason for their success. Boyd has pitched at least six innings and allowed three earned runs or fewer in 10 of his 14 starts with his new team. The left-hander tossed six innings of one-hit ball in Saturday's 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. 'He continues to just do an excellent job and put us in position to win games,' manager Craig Counsell said. Chicago is missing three key starting pitchers because of injuries. Shota Imanaga could return by the end of June, but Justin Steele is out for the season after he had elbow surgery. Javier Assad is trying to come back from an oblique issue. Amid those issues with the rotation, Boyd just keeps sailing along for the Cubs — particularly at Wrigley Field. He is 6-0 with a 2.25 ERA in six home starts this year. 'Pitching at Wrigley is really special,' Boyd said. 'Getting to play in this environment, every outing, you know, you go out there, there's so much energy from the fans. It feels like a playoff-type outing. I'm really grateful to call it home right now.' The 34-year-old Boyd finalized a $29 million, two-year contract with Chicago in December. His late grandfather, John Boyd, grew up in Chicago and was a big Cubs fan. Matthew Boyd had Tommy John surgery in June 2023, but he returned last year with Cleveland and went 2-2 with a 2.72 ERA in eight starts with the Guardians. He also made three postseason starts for the AL Central champions, allowing one run while striking out 14 in 11 2/3 innings. 'He's got a lot of different ways to get guys out, whether it's the fastball, the changeup, slider, curveball,' Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson said. 'It's kind of a little bit of a funky arm slot. He's a true pro in ways that he wants to get guys out. So you know when he's out there you know you got a chance to win the game. ... He's been awesome for us.' The only hit Boyd allowed on Saturday was Andrew McCutchen's one-out drive in the first inning for his seventh homer. He retired 14 in a row after McCutchen went deep. 'You just go keep pitching, right?' Boyd said. 'Whether it's a home run or a walk or even a strikeout, something good, you just continue to go out and keep doing what you expect of yourself when the ball's in your hand.' Tommy Pham broke up the string when he reached on a leadoff walk in the sixth, but Boyd promptly picked him off. Boyd has picked off a baserunner in a career-high three consecutive games, tying Rick Sutcliffe and Bill Hands for the franchise record. He has a major league-high six on the season, one more than Yankees left-hander Max Fried. Boyd said Bellevue College coach Mark Yoshino in Washington taught him his pick-off move when he was a kid. 'It's always been something I've put a focus on. ... It's something that you just want to stay sharp on,' Boyd said. 'You don't want to fall into weird patterns.' ___ AP MLB:
Washington Post
2 days ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
Peralta, Brewers hand the Cardinals their 7th straight loss with a 3-2 victory
MILWAUKEE — Freddy Peralta struck out six over six innings of one-run ball and the Milwaukee Brewers' scraped out just enough against Erick Fedde for a 3-2 victory over the St. Cardinals on Friday night. After retiring the Cardinals in order through the first three innings, Peralta (6-4) gave up four hits and a walk. St. Louis has lost seven straight to fall 1 1/2 games back of second-place Milwaukee and six games behind first-place Chicago in the NL Central. St. Louis scored it's only run in the fifth when Alec Burleson and Nolan Arenado opened the inning with back-to-back doubles. Fedde (3-6) also faced the minimum through three. Milwaukee's first hit came in the fourth when Sal Frelick led off with a single that hit Fedde on the left wrist. After getting checked out by the training staff, Fedde stayed in the game and William Contreras put Milwaukee on the board with an RBI double in the inning. The Brewers opened the sixth with back-to-back singles before taking the lead on Contreras' sac fly that brought Fedde's day to an end. The Brewers scored once more in the inning when Christian Yelich reached on a fielder's choice. Milwaukee got two scoreless innings from Jared Koenig and Abner Uribe before the Cardinals cut the deficit to a run in the ninth on Victor Scott's RBI single off Trevor Megill. Peralta is 4-0 with a 1.09 ERA in seven home starts this season. Milwaukee is 6-1 in those contests. Milwaukee LHP Jose Quintana (4-1, 2.86 ERA) was set to face RHP Andre Pallante (4-3, 4.75 ERA) on Saturday. ___ AP MLB:
