CHICAGO (WGN) — After another 162-game marathon concluded for the Chicago Cubs on Sunday, Monday’s press conferences at Wrigley Field showed why baseball is so much more than just a game.
Especially in the case of Matthew Boyd.
Boyd, slated to be the Cubs’ Game 1 starter against the San Diego Padres on Tuesday as the clubs face off in the National League Wildcard Series, was a self-described “bull in a China shop” for most of his time in front of the microphone.
“[I’m] Grateful. It’s something you dream of,” Boyd said of his emotions after finding out he was going to start Game 1. “Getting to do it at Wrigley, that I get to do it for the Cubs organization, it’s something I don’t take lightly. It’s an amazing honor. I’m extremely grateful.”
The news came after it was revealed standout rookie Cade Horton fractured a rib during his Sept. 23 start against the New York Mets, effectively putting Horton on the injured list for the entire postseason.
“Cade down the stretch has been the best pitcher in baseball. I feel like it’s easy to say and the numbers back that up,” Boyd said. “It’s a bummer that he’s not going to be on the mound, crossing the line with us this time, but that’s why there’s 26 of us and a 40-man roster.”
Boyd, an 11-year MLB veteran, put together the best season of his career in 2025 on the North Side of Chicago. The 6-foot-2-inch, 223-pound lefty made the second-most starts of his career (31) and notched career highs in wins (14) and ERA (3.21) in seasons where he made at least double-digit starts on the mound.
“We’re lucky to have Matt. He’s a big reason why we’re here,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “He’s been our consistent ‘take the ball every time’ starter, and you’re happy to hand the ball to a guy like that.”
Boyd, one of the Cubs’ elder statesmen (only Colin Rea is older than him in the starting rotation), talked about the team’s belief in each other remained consistent and “hasn’t wavered.”
He pointed out how the Tokyo Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers in March brought the team closer together and helped set the foundation for them to remain consistent in mentality and tone.
“It was just us and our spouses in a foreign country for a week. It led to a lot of good memories,” Boyd said. “It led to a lot of cohesiveness and it set the tone through the year. Through every trial, whether someone has gone down [or] a rough patch [happened], our mentality has stayed the same.
“Our tone has stayed the same, and that’s huge over the course of 100 games-plus. That’s something special about our ballclub.”
But the truth is, there’s something special about the story behind Boyd’s life and the connection his family shares through the game of baseball.
Fortunately enough, one reporter at Wrigley Field on Monday followed up on Boyd’s use “of the word, dreams.”
“I wanted to ask you more about that,” the reporter said. “You seem like a sentimental, thoughtful guy. Are you feeling all kinds of big things right now? Big, conflicting feelings about what you have—this team, this season, this opportunity in your career, and all that … What are you feeling?”
“I’m a sucker for this sort of thing,” Boyd said, fighting back tears. “It’s cool … You think about a career. You think about—I’m ridiculous man—this is cool for so many different reasons. It’s cool because you never know when the opportunity presents itself. I waited my first eight years to get the chance of a postseason [and I] didn’t really get to be a part of it on the field.
“I only really threw one out. You never really know when the opportunity is going to come again. To do it with the Cubs, to do it with this group, it will never be like this again. When we come back here, the personnel will not be the same. It’s a special group. It’s a good group of guys, and it’s unique to this moment, and that’s it.
“To think that I would have gotten this opportunity, knowing everything about [my] grandfather growing up here being a Cubs [fan], it’s cool. It’s cool stuff. He would be happy … But that’s the cool stuff. My grandfather grew up in Chicago. He grew up a Cubs fan. I think 2016 was one of the happiest days of his life, and I get to be a Cub now. It’s pretty cool.”
Right-hander Nick Pivetta (13-5, 2.87 ERA) will start opposite Boyd (14-8, 3.21 ERA) on Tuesday at 2:08 p.m. CST, and after Monday, we all know it’s a bit more than just a game.