CHICAGO — The press room fell silent this morning at Wrigley Field as Matthew Boyd, the pitcher tasked with starting Game 1 of the Wild Card series between the Cubs and Padres, broke down in tears as he shared his feelings with the media.
He raised his hands to his head, leaned back in his chair, and used the shoulder of his Cubs jersey to wipe away tears — a rare sight for a professional athlete given a big opportunity in the playoffs.
“This is cool … I waited my first eight years to get the chance in the postseason.”
“To do it with the Cubs … it will never be like this again. It’s a special group … that’s it.”
Boyd is no stranger to the postseason scene, but he spent several seasons on the sidelines before being called upon to do so.
Previously, with the Mariners in 2022, Boyd only made one ALDS appearance.
Last year, he was in the postseason with the Cleveland Guardians and started three games in that series.
What made this moment even more meaningful was Boyd’s personal connection to Chicago: his grandfather grew up a diehard Cubs fan in the city.
When Matthew signed with the Cubs last season, he mentioned his desire to truly “be a part of” the team his family loved.
“Knowing everything about my grandfather growing up here … He would be extremely happy. … To be a Cub, it’s pretty cool stuff,” he said, unable to hide his pride and pressure for the family name and memories.
Boyd’s family is heading to Chicago to be in the stands at Wrigley Stadium, cheering him on in the Cubs’ most important start of the season.
Cade Horton, the young pitcher many expected to start Game 1, has suffered a rib injury and is on the IL, forcing the team to choose a replacement.
So the opportunity to be the “wingman” in Game 1 has fallen to Boyd.
The Cubs’ coaching staff have certainly considered: recent form, playoff experience, mental state, and consistency are all factors. Choosing Boyd is not just a technical decision, but also a symbolic one — sending the message that trust is given to players who can handle the pressure.
Boyd knows that. “If we come back here, the personnel will not be the same … It’s a special group …”
He acknowledged that the season, the roster, and this opportunity could very well be the only one he wants to remember.
It seemed like the Cubs, not just Boyd personally, felt this was an important moment to step up. Before kickoff, the locker room atmosphere, the early morning practices, the strategy meetings — everything was seen as “getting ready for this moment.”
The selection of Boyd as the starter sent a message to both MLB and the Padres that the Cubs weren’t just about big names or star players — they wanted a team built on trust, patience, and making their mark one game at a time.
Heading into Game 1, the question was no longer whether Boyd would pitch well — it was whether he could make this moment the starting point for a journey Cubs Nation would remember forever.
1 tears. 1 commitments. 1 chances to make history. And all eyes are on Matthew Boyd.
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