Cubs Place Opening Day Starter Matthew Boyd on 15-Day IL

Bicep strain sidelines Boyd, Javier Assad recalled from Triple-A to start Tuesday

Apr. 6, 2026 at 7:29pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist-style painting depicting a baseball pitcher's throwing motion broken down into fragmented, overlapping geometric shapes in shades of blue, green, and orange, conveying the disruption to the Cubs' pitching staff.The Cubs' pitching rotation faces early challenges with injuries to key starters Matthew Boyd and Cade Horton.Today in Tampa

The Chicago Cubs have placed starting pitcher Matthew Boyd on the 15-day injured list due to a left bicep strain. Boyd, the team's Opening Day starter, will miss at least the next two weeks, with manager Craig Counsell expecting him to return during the upcoming series against the New York Mets. The Cubs have also lost another key rotation member, Cade Horton, to a right forearm strain, testing the team's pitching depth early in the season.

Why it matters

The Cubs were counting on Boyd and Horton to anchor their starting rotation this season after making the playoffs in 2025. Losing both pitchers to injury in the first week is a significant blow, as the team will now have to rely more heavily on their depth options to keep pace in the competitive NL Central division.

The details

Boyd said he's felt the bicep issue in his starts but it hasn't prevented him from pitching effectively. His fastball velocity hasn't dropped, and he's coming off a 10-strikeout performance against the Angels. However, the team felt it was best for Boyd to miss a couple starts to resolve the injury rather than try to pitch through it. Javier Assad has been recalled from Triple-A Iowa to start in Boyd's place on Tuesday against the Rays.

  • On April 6, 2026, the Cubs placed Matthew Boyd on the 15-day injured list with a left bicep strain.
  • Manager Craig Counsell expects Boyd to return during the Mets series, which begins on April 17, 2026.

The players

Matthew Boyd

The Cubs' Opening Day starting pitcher, who has been placed on the 15-day injured list with a left bicep strain.

Craig Counsell

The manager of the Chicago Cubs, who said he expects Boyd to return during the upcoming Mets series.

Javier Assad

A pitcher who has been recalled from Triple-A Iowa to start in place of the injured Boyd on Tuesday against the Rays.

Cade Horton

A promising young Cubs pitcher who has also been placed on the 15-day injured list, this time with a right forearm strain.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“'We think we can put this behind him and not have to worry about it, instead of kind of worrying about start to start.'”

— Craig Counsell, Cubs Manager

“'The last thing you want to do is compound, and then you're behind the eight ball.'”

— Matthew Boyd

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

The Cubs' pitching depth is being tested early, with the loss of both Matthew Boyd and Cade Horton to injuries in the first week of the season. The team will need to rely on its depth options to keep pace in the NL Central while Boyd and Horton recover.