Chicago Cubs pitcher Matthew Boyd will start Game 1 of the Wild Card series Tuesday night, and for him, it’s bigger than baseball.
Fighting back tears at Monday’s press conference, Boyd reflected on his late grandfather, a lifelong Cubs fan who grew up in Chicago. “To get this opportunity, knowing everything about my grandfather, it’s cool. He would be extremely happy,” Boyd said.
Boyd, who signed a two-year deal before the season, delivered one of the best years of his career with a 14-8 record and a 3.21 ERA across 31 starts.
The Cubs are chasing their first playoff win since 2017, after falling short in 2020. For Boyd, this is about savoring the moment: “You never know when the opportunity presents itself. To do it with the Cubs, with this group—it’ll never be like this again.” Per Bleacher Nation