Cubs activate Matthew Boyd for Thursday return

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.

Boyd has been out since May 3rd with a knee injury and then a shoulder-related shutout. The left-hander has a 6.00 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and 31/6 K/BB ratio in 24 innings across five starts. Despite his poor surface-level stats, Boyd was coming off a solid start before getting hurt and should be rostered in most league types.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell told reporters they’re waiting on several factors, most notably the weather, before determining when exactly Boyd will take the ball later this week. The 35-year-old is ready to make his first start since May 3 after recovering from knee surgery and a shoulder-related setback. He struck out seven and fired four shutout innings in his final minor league rehab start for High-A South Bend over the weekend.

Boyd made it through a bullpen session earlier this week and has been cleared to make a rehab start this weekend. The 35-year-old southpaw’s return to Chicago’s rotation was scrapped last week due to shoulder soreness. He should make it back at some point in early July.

The Cubs will determine his next steps following the session. Boyd’s return from the injured list was scuttled late last week due to shoulder soreness. The 35-year-old has been working his way back from knee surgery that he underwent back in early May. It’s starting to feel like he’ll need at least one minor league rehab start before rejoining Chicago’s rotation.

Not good. Counsell added that Boyd experienced shoulder soreness following his final minor league rehab start and wasn’t feeling right after a bullpen session earlier this week. There should be a clearer return timeline for the 35-year-old southpaw, who is coming back from knee surgery last month, once he resumes throwing in the coming days. It’ll be Javier Assad taking the ball against the Giants at Oracle Park this weekend in his place.

Rea allowed nine hits — two of those homers — and he walked three against two strikeouts. The right-hander gave up two in the first, three in the second, and two more in the third in an outing that saw the 35-year-old’s ERA bump up to 5.19 in the process. Matthew Boyd will be back soon from his knee injury, but for now, Rea is scheduled to start against the Giants on Sunday.

Boyd figures to take the ball at some point against the Giants at Oracle Park this weekend. It’s a favorable matchup right out of the gate for the veteran southpaw after missing five weeks recovering from knee surgery. There’s some definite fantasy appeal in deeper mixed leagues despite some mixed results during a rehab start for Triple-A Iowa over the weekend.

Boyd threw five innings and allowed five runs during his rehab start Saturday for Triple-A Iowa while throwing 64-of-83 pitches for strikes. The 35-year-old has been limited to just five starts in 2026, and while he was shaky in those outing as seen in his 6.00 ERA, he offers some fantasy upside based on his success in 2025 and previous campaigns.