Cubs' Matthew Boyd Struggles in Opening Day Loss to Nationals

Veteran pitcher allows 5 runs in the 4th inning as Chicago falls 10-4 on opening day at Wrigley Field.

Mar. 27, 2026 at 12:35am

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In his first opening day start with the Chicago Cubs, veteran pitcher Matthew Boyd had a strong start, striking out 7 of the first 10 batters he faced. However, he lost command in the 4th inning, allowing 5 runs as the Washington Nationals pulled away for a 10-4 victory at Wrigley Field. The Cubs' offense left 9 runners on base and went just 4-for-19 with runners in scoring position.

Why it matters

The Cubs entered the season with high expectations after a strong 2025 campaign, but this opening day loss is a setback as they look to build on that success. Boyd's struggles raise questions about the team's starting rotation depth, while the offense's inability to capitalize on opportunities highlights an area that may need improvement.

The details

Boyd was cruising through the first 3 innings, racking up 16 whiffs. But in the 4th, he lost command of his fastball, leading to several pitches over the middle of the plate that the Nationals hitters capitalized on. The Cubs' offense had chances, collecting 8 hits and drawing 5 walks, but couldn't string together timely hits to mount a comeback.

  • Matthew Boyd made his first opening day start for the Cubs on March 27, 2026.
  • The Nationals tagged Boyd for 5 runs in the 4th inning.

The players

Matthew Boyd

A veteran pitcher making his first opening day start for the Chicago Cubs after earning an All-Star selection the previous season.

Cade Cavalli

The starting pitcher for the Washington Nationals, who held the Cubs' offense in check for much of the game.

Michael Busch

A Cubs hitter who collected 5 of the team's 8 hits, including 2 RBI singles.

Pete Crow-Armstrong

A Cubs outfielder who also drove in a run with a single as part of the team's brief 2-1 lead.

Jed Hoyer

The Cubs' president of baseball operations, who expressed confidence in the team's high expectations for the 2026 season.

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What they’re saying

“Honestly, I just needed to make an adjustment faster and I wasn't able to. That's kind of the story of the game, unfortunately. That was the difference-maker, gave them a big enough lead to kind of roll with it. And that's just on me.”

— Matthew Boyd, Cubs Pitcher

“You're going to your bullpen in the fourth inning, some bad things have happened if that's the case, and that was the case. We were in the game a little bit with all the runners on base we had every inning … the next hit was kind of missing.”

— Craig Counsell, Cubs Manager

“There's nothing you can do or say that's going to make it go away, people can read the projections, they can see the players on the field, so you can't make it go away. You might as well go the other direction and really embrace it and realize that the reason people are saying that is because people think we're good. I think our team thinks we're good. It can really kind of fuel a team that has those expectations that they want to live up to them, and they want to come to the ballpark every day to prove people right so it's a positive.”

— Jed Hoyer, Cubs President of Baseball Operations

What’s next

The Cubs will look to bounce back in their second game of the season against the Nationals on Saturday, March 28th.

The takeaway

While the Cubs' opening day loss was disappointing, the team remains confident in its ability to contend this season. The offense's struggles with runners in scoring position and Boyd's shaky 4th inning are areas the team will need to address, but the high expectations and talent on the roster suggest this is just a temporary setback on the road to another potential playoff run.