Matthew Boyd DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Free-agent veteran left-hander Matthew Boyd agreed to a two-year, $29 million deal with the Chicago Cubs on Monday. Boyd will make $14.5 million per year plus $1 million in incentives ($500,000 per season). The 33-year-old southpaw was recovering from Tommy John surgery early in 2024 and didn't sign with the Cleveland Guardians until June. When he finally debuted, he was effective on the mound in Cleveland, going 2-2 with a 2.72 ERA (3.29 FIP), a 1.13 WHIP, 46 strikeouts and 13 walks in 39 2/3 frames over his eight starts during the regular season. In the postseason, Boyd was even better, giving up only one run in 12 innings pitched. Although Boyd hasn't made more than 15 regular-season starts in a single season since 2019, he'll give the Cubbies some valuable starting experience for their starting rotation to open the 2025 campaign.

Cleveland Guardians left-hander Matthew Boyd will make the start in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series against the New York Yankees on Thursday at Progressive Field. Boyd will try to prevent the Yankees from taking a commanding 3-0 lead in the series. The 33-year-old veteran southpaw will try to keep the good times rolling in his third career postseason start after blanking the division-rival Detroit Tigers over 6 2/3 innings in his two starts against them in the AL Division Series. In those starts, Boyd allowed five hits, walked three and struck out 10 batters. He made only eight starts during the regular season for Cleveland but was solid with a 2.72 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 46 K's. Boyd allowed three earned runs on four walks and two K's in 5 1/3 innings in his lone outing against the Yankees back on Aug. 20 in the Bronx.

Cleveland Guardians left-hander Matthew Boyd will make the start for Cleveland on Saturday in the decisive Game 5 of the American League Division Series against the division-rival Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field, according to manager Stephen Vogt. The 33-year-old southpaw will be going on regular rest in the winner-take-all contest after going 4 2/3 shutout frames with five strikeouts in the team's Game 2 loss on Monday. Boyd will be opposed by Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal, who is the overwhelming favorite to win the AL Cy Young this year after winning the AL pitching Triple Crown. He'll be hoping to replicate his performance his last time out against his former team. Boyd only made eight starts during the regular season for the Guardians but was on point with a 2.72 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP in his 39 2/3 innings while walking 13 and striking out 46. He certainly doesn't have the type of upside as Skubal, though.