Matthew Boyd, set to pitch soon for the Chicago Cubs, threw a bullpen session at Citi Field. His current schedule aligns for Thursday’s game against the New York Mets. However, Cubs manager Craig Counsell hesitated to finalize this due to potential game delays prompted by rain.
Boyd felt ready after a rehab start at High-A South Bend, which followed a setback due to shoulder soreness. This discomfort emerged after a bullpen session in Denver, pushing back Boyd’s return by about ten days. Recent adjustments to his pitching mechanics, particularly arm height in his delivery, helped resolve the issue.
Counsell emphasized Boyd needs consistent game appearances. This consistency is crucial for Boyd, who missed time this season due to surgery and a biceps strain.
“Look, we’ve got to get Matt out there consistently,” said Counsell. “That’s what we need to do to effectively assess his performance.”
Meanwhile, Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong earned Major League Baseball’s National League player of the week for the second time this month. Crow-Armstrong hit an impressive .550 with four home runs and seven RBIs over a week. This achievement made him the first Cubs player since 2005 to win multiple awards in a single month.
His performance included a strategic at-bat against the Blue Jays’ reliever Mason Fluharty. He demonstrated skill by recovering from an 0-2 count to load the bases with a single.
“You get to two strikes and you’ve got to give up something,” explained Counsell, “but it allows you to make good swing decisions.”
The Cubs, however, face challenges in the All-Star Game voting. Despite some strong individual performances, several Cubs players rank low in the voting. This indicates fan support hasn’t materialized despite their efforts on the field.
The Cubs’ contenders include Alex Bregman, Carson Kelly, and Moisés Ballesteros, all ranked seventh in their positions. Meanwhile, Crow-Armstrong and Seiya Suzuki are ranked 14th and 16th among outfielders, respectively.