The Chicago Cubs boast an 8-1 record in the last nine starts made by Matthew Boyd following the left-hander’s return from a torn meniscus on June 25.
The lone blemish wasn’t the fault of Boyd, either. He gave up four hits over seven scoreless innings in a game the Cubs lost to the St. Louis Cardinals 3-2 in 10 innings on July 29.
All of the runs came in the extra frame.
Boyd will return to the mound on Saturday afternoon when the host Cubs vie for a series win over the Cardinals.
St. Louis mustered just three hits Friday in a 3-0 setback in the opener of the three-game set, but help is on the way.
Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol told reporters that outfielder Joshua Baez, the organization’s No. 3 prospect and No. 59 overall by MLB Pipeline, will make his major league debut on Saturday. Baez, 23, leads Triple-A with 34 homers and 90 RBIs in 103 games with Memphis.
Boyd (8-1, 3.50 ERA) will look to keep Baez in check and follow the lead of Clay Holmes, who allowed one hit over 6 2/3 scoreless innings on Friday afternoon. Seiya Suzuki provided the offense with a three-run shot, marking his second homer in his past four games.
“I think we’re playing with a lot of confidence, for sure. Swagger (and) confidence,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said after the club’s ninth win in the past 11 games. “I think this team believes it’s a good team.”
Boyd won his second consecutive start and eighth straight decision on Sunday after yielding two runs on five hits in seven innings in a 10-2 victory at the Kansas City Royals. Pitching into the seventh is nothing new for Boyd, who has done so in five of his last six outings.
“He’s just been pitching so well since he’s come off the injured list and really been a big boost to what we’ve done in the starting rotation,” Counsell said.
Boyd, 35, is 3-2 with a slim 1.58 ERA in seven career appearances (all starts) against the Cardinals.
While Boyd continues to rack up wins, St. Louis right-hander Michael McGreevy (4-9, 3.64 ERA) is trending in the other direction. He had a 3-2 record on May 8 after defeating the San Diego Padres and is 1-7 since.
McGreevy’s most recent loss was brutal, as he permitted seven runs on eight hits in 1 2/3 innings in a 10-2 setback to the Cubs on July 28. All told, the 26-year-old is 1-2 with a 7.94 ERA in four career appearances (all starts) vs. Chicago.
McGreevy received his second straight no-decision after yielding three runs on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings on Sunday against the Colorado Rockies as the Cardinals won 7-4.
On Friday, Gold Glove shortstop Masyn Wynn made a stellar defensive play in the series opener for St. Louis, denying speedy Pete Crow-Armstrong of a potential hit in the fourth inning.
“He brings a lot, man, and all of the guys gravitate toward him,” Marmol said on Apple TV of Winn.
“I love his personality and what he brings to the table defensively, and we just saw what he’s capable of doing (with the glove). I feel like he does that almost every game. And we’re starting to really see some upside offensively. So he’s a well-rounded player, and he brings a ton of energy and competes extremely well.”
–Field Level Media
