The Chicago Cubs dropped Sunday’s game to the Detroit Tigers, losing the three-game series. Still, both teams are off to strong starts this season and currently sit atop their respective divisions with playoff hopes in full view.
A big reason for the Cubs’ early success is veteran pitcher Matthew Boyd, who’s been impressive in his 11th MLB season. Boyd, who spent most of his career with Detroit, spoke about his former team’s resurgence after the game.
“When you go through those tough seasons, you always picture yourself being there when things turn around,” Boyd told Evan Woodbery of MLive Media. “That didn’t happen for me, but I’m happy for them. I know how much it means to the city of Detroit.”
Boyd was originally traded to the Tigers in 2015 as part of the deal that sent David Price to Toronto. He spent seven seasons in Detroit, had a brief stint with the Mariners, and returned to the Tigers in 2023. Now in his second year with the Cubs, Boyd has become a crucial piece of Chicago’s rotation, especially with ace Justin Steele out for the year.
During Boyd’s time in Detroit, the Tigers only won 43% of their games and never made the postseason. Last year, they weren’t seen as contenders until a late-season surge allowed them to overtake the Twins and claim the final Wild Card spot.
Now, Detroit is firmly in the playoff picture. Behind strong performances from starters Tarik Skubal, Jack Flaherty, and Casey Mize, the Tigers improved to 43-24 with Sunday’s win, holding a seven-game lead over Minnesota in the AL Central.
The Cubs, meanwhile, sit at 40-25 and maintain a four-game lead over the Brewers in the NL Central. They’ll open a crucial road series against the Phillies on Monday.
