Cubs Wild Card Opener
Cubs Name Matthew Boyd Wild Card Game 1 Starter Against Padres
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The Chicago Cubs will start Matthew Boyd against the San Diego Padres in Game 1 of their best-of-three National League Wild Card series Tuesday in San Diego. Boyd held the Padres to one run in 4⅓ innings in last year’s postseason opener and finished the regular season strongly after returning from knee surgery. Kevin Gausman, who has a sore non-throwing shoulder after a diving play, is expected to pitch during the series but was not considered ready to start Game 1; Shota Imanaga is also part of the pitching plans. Manager Craig Counsell has not specified the later pitching assignments and said the Cubs will use their staff as needed. The team is also assessing whether Alex Bregman, who has facial fractures, can play third base; he has resumed hitting and had a strong regular-season finale.
Key Points
1
The Padres will start right-hander Michael King opposite Boyd in Game 1.
2
Counsell said the Cubs’ priority is getting 27 outs, without committing to traditional starter or reliever roles: “The order that happens? Starter, reliever, closer, setup man. Those words don’t matter.”
3
The Cubs expect to carry 12 pitchers, and Clay Holmes could provide bulk innings either as a starter or in relief.
4
If Bregman cannot play third base, the Cubs could start Pedro Ramirez or Matt Shaw there and use Bregman as the designated hitter; Counsell said Bregman’s facial fractures are not healed.
5
Boyd recorded a 1.93 ERA in his first seven starts after returning from knee surgery, then a 3.28 ERA over his final six regular-season starts.
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