Cubs Lose Another Starting Pitcher to Injury

Matthew Boyd to miss time with a bicep issue, adding to the team's pitching woes.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 8:23pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a baseball pitcher's throwing motion broken down into overlapping geometric shapes and planes, using a vibrant color palette of navy, green, and orange to convey the fragmented nature of the Cubs' pitching staff.The Cubs' pitching rotation has been shattered by early-season injuries, forcing the team to rely on its depth to stay competitive.Chicago Today

The Chicago Cubs have placed starting pitcher Matthew Boyd on the 15-day injured list due to a bicep strain. This comes just a day after the team announced that another starter, Cade Horton, would also be sidelined. The Cubs expect Boyd to return in a timely fashion, but the team's pitching depth is already being tested early in the season.

Why it matters

The Cubs' starting rotation has been decimated by injuries to begin the 2026 season, putting pressure on the team's depth and forcing them to call up less experienced pitchers like Javier Assad to fill the void. Maintaining a healthy rotation is crucial for the Cubs' playoff hopes, so these setbacks could have significant implications for their season.

The details

Boyd, the Cubs' Opening Day starter and a 2025 All-Star, said the bicep strain was not an issue during his first two starts, but rather developed during his recovery days between outings. The team expects Boyd to return from the IL in the minimum 15-day stint. In his first two starts, Boyd posted a 6.75 ERA, but bounced back with a strong 10-strikeout performance against the Angels in his second outing.

  • On April 6, 2026, the Cubs announced that Boyd was being placed on the 15-day injured list.
  • Earlier on the same day, the team had revealed that Cade Horton was also headed to the IL.

The players

Matthew Boyd

The Cubs' Opening Day starter and a 2025 All-Star, who has been placed on the 15-day injured list with a bicep strain.

Cade Horton

Another Cubs starting pitcher who was recently placed on the injured list, adding to the team's pitching woes.

Javier Assad

A right-handed pitcher who has been called up from Triple-A to replace Boyd on the Cubs' roster.

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What they’re saying

“The Cubs fully expect this to be a minimum IL stint for Matthew Boyd. The issue has been in his recovery and they feel a little break will allow him to regain full health.”

— Taylor McGregor

What’s next

The Cubs will turn to Javier Assad to fill Boyd's spot in the rotation, with his first start expected to come against the Tampa Bay Rays this week.

The takeaway

The Cubs' starting rotation has been ravaged by injuries to start the season, putting their playoff hopes in jeopardy if they can't find a way to keep their pitchers healthy. The team will need to rely on its depth to weather this storm, but the loss of key starters like Boyd and Horton is a significant blow.