MILWAUKEE — A short turnaround did not prevent the Chicago Cubs from calling on their veteran left-hander.
Matthew Boyd, pitching on three days’ rest, will start Game 1 on Saturday in the best-of-five National League Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers. His usage in the opener of the wild-card series put him in play to be used Saturday at American Family Field.
Boyd threw only 58 pitches in Tuesday’s outing, which was low enough to enable him to bounce back in time. He also warmed up during the ninth inning of Thursday’s 3-1 clincher that ended up replicating his typical between-starts bullpen session.
“This would not be a decision on a 90-pitch start, we would not be considering this,” manager Craig Counsell said Friday. “But I think he had his head on it, probably when he got in the dugout (after exiting Tuesday).”
In the days since, Boyd had asked Counsell repeatedly about getting the ball Saturday if the Cubs advanced past the San Diego Padres. Boyd was unavailable to discuss his impending Game 1 start; the team announced the decision after its workout concluded Friday and it had departed the ballpark.
“This is what we do as a squad, we’re ready to get that next one,” Boyd said in the celebratory postgame clubhouse Thursday. “If I was called upon (in the ninth), I was going to be ready.”
Kyle Tucker (calf) likely will be in the Game 1 lineup as the Cubs designated hitter again, but he is getting close to being able to play right field.
The Cubs wanted to make sure Boyd felt good after throwing during Friday’s workout before committing to the 34-year-old for Saturday’s start. In five career postseason appearances, including four starts, Boyd has a 1.10 ERA in 16 1/3 innings. He faced the Brewers twice in the regular season, allowing nine runs, 12 hits and eight walks while striking out five in 10 1/3 innings.
“It’s cool because you never know when the opportunity presents itself,” Boyd said Monday of pitching in the postseason before his start in the wild-card series. “I waited my first eight years to get the chance of a postseason. Didn’t really get to be a part of it on the field. I only threw one out. You never know when the opportunity is going to come again.
“It’s something I’ve always prided myself in is taking the ball. Doesn’t matter how you feel. Doesn’t matter what’s going on. You go out there and compete.”
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