The Chicago Cubs have been beset by pitching injuries this season, with Jameson Taillon the latest starter to land on the injured list.
Fortunately, left-hander Matthew Boyd has emerged as a steadying force for the rotation.
“Losing (Justin) Steele so early and then obviously losing Shota (Imanaga) for almost two months, we really needed Matt to step up, especially with some of the young guys sort of getting their feet wet,” Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said. “And he’s done an amazing job.”
Boyd (8-3, 2.65 ERA) will try to continue his success Sunday when the Cubs host the Cardinals in the rubber game of a three-game series.
The Cubs won 11-3 Friday, and the Cardinals rallied for an 8-6 victory Saturday afternoon, snapping their losing streak at four games and Chicago’s winning streak at four.
Boyd has won his last two starts while allowing just two runs on eight hits and one walk over 13 innings.
He blanked the Cardinals for six innings on three hits in an 8-0 victory on June 25. Boyd followed that effort by holding the Cleveland Guardians to two runs on five hits over seven innings in a 5-2 victory on Tuesday.
“It was excellent again. It was efficient,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said after that game. “It’s just more of what we’ve seen from Matt, really, the whole season. His steadiness and his just delivering innings every time out — quality innings every time out — it’s stabilizing. And it helps the bullpen. It helps you win.”
Boyd is 2-1 with a 1.57 ERA in four career starts against St. Louis.
The Cardinals are vulnerable to left-handed starters with Ivan Herrera and Jordan Walker in the injured list. They scored two runs off Cubs opener Drew Pomeranz Saturday, but before that they scored just four runs against left-handed starters over five games and 30 2/3 innings.
“We have to be able to combat it differently,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said. “Lefties have gotten us. It’s no secret.”
The Cardinals may be missing third baseman Nolan Arenado again Sunday. He was a late scratch Saturday due to a shoulder impingement.
“We’ll take a deeper look and have an understanding if we’re looking at day-to-day or anything beyond that,” Marmol said. “It happened (Friday); he felt it on a swing.”
Cardinals right-hander Erick Fedde (3-8, 4.56 ERA) will try to get back on track Sunday after allowing 14 runs on 18 hits and five walks in 8 2/3 innings in his last two starts.
“Obviously, these last two are about as bad as it gets,” Fedde said. “I wish I had answers for you. I really do.”
Fedde suffered an 8-0 loss to the Cubs on June 25 while allowing seven runs on eight hits and two walks in 3 2/3 innings. Kyle Tucker, Ian Happ and Reese McGuire hit homers off him in that game.
Then Fedde suffered a 7-0 loss at Pittsburgh in his next start. After allowing 10 hits and walking three batters in five innings, he noted that his cutter and his sinker needed more bite.
“It feels a lot of the first-pitch swings I’m getting are hits rather than the quick outs you talk about,” Fedde said. “It’s one of those things where it’s not as late, late movement, and that’s causing better swings. I’ve got to get back to those quick outs and put some zeros on the board.”
In five career starts against the Cubs, Fedde is 0-2 with a 7.92 ERA.
–Field Level Media
