Matthew Boyd Is Defeating Father Time By Simply Being Himself

Matthew Boyd has been the steady hand on the wheel the Chicago Cubs have needed in a year where each injury has tried to sink the boat a little bit more. With four starting pitchers (Ben Brown, Cade Horton, Justin Steele and Edward Cabrera) on the team’s injured list, Boyd has had to assume more responsibility when he's been healthy. As the veteran southpaw celebrates 10 years of MLB service time, a mark he achieved just a few days ago, let’s break down how he has actually gotten better after turning 30 years old. 

Exploring Matthew Boyd's MLB Journey

Boyd is currently 35 years old, and his career hasn’t come without a fair share of trials and tribulations. The veteran southpaw made his big-league debut in 2015, and from 2015-2020, he churned out a 34-54 record with a 5.08 earned run average. He struggled mightily with injury issues, eclipsing 100 innings three times over those six years and surpassing 150 frames just twice.

Boyd turned 30 years old in 2021, and from that point on, he’s put up a 32-24 record with a 3.71 ERA. The Cubs sarter has been with five different organizations, spending eight seasons with the Detroit Tigers and two years or less with four other squads. Yet, in the midst of a career consisting of changing environments and a heavy dosage of the injury bug, he’s aging like fine wine. 

His Cubs Years

Boyd’s season and a half with the Cubs has far and away been the best stint of his career, as the crafty left-handed pitcher earned an All-Star nod for the first time in his career in the 2025 season. This was thanks to a 14-8 record, 3.21 ERA, and 154 punchouts over 179.2 innings, the second-highest workload of his career. 

The question becomes this; how is Boyd putting up the best seasons of his big-league tenure in his mid-30s?

Pitch Arsenal

Boyd has to attack hitters a little differently than a lot of the front-of-the-rotation starters nowadays. He doesn’t have a high-90s fastball, as his primary offering (which he uses 47 percent of the time) is gliding in at an average of 92.7 miles per hour (23rd percentile). It’s also a pitch that, even from his 24 degree arm angle, is being hit at a relatively high clip. Opposing batters are managing to generate a .310 batting average against the four-seamer this year.

His changeup is the next offering in terms of usage hierarchy, one he chooses to fire 27 percent of the time. While the fastball isn’t as high-octane as most in the league, the fact that Boyd’s changeup rides in at 79 miles per hour makes both pitches effective. The 35-year-old tunnels the pitches very well, with the changeup being 13 miles per hour slower while holding a very similar shape to the fastball. Both pitches have plenty of arm-side ride, with the off-speed pitch coming out just a bit flatter. 

Boyd also possesses a slider, arguably his best pitch, garnering a .118 batting average against with a single extra-base hit allowed across 38 at-bats that have ended with the offering. Setting up this option has been pivotal in allowing him to return to his 2025 form after coming back from injury.

Pristine Location

A four-pitch mix, combined with a deceivingly low arm angle, is a strong start to being productive, but Boyd’s best attribute is that he makes his opponent work. Walks provide a one-way street to give the offense a chance to do damage, and the longtime starter just doesn't allow them all that much. He gives up a free pass just 6.5 percent of the time, good enough to nestle him in the 80th percentile league-wide.

Overall, Boyd’s ability to mix up his pitches, hit the zone and garner high chase rates have all given him a finesse-driven approach. This allows him to be much more productive, and he doesn’t have to demand as much velocity out of his arm in the process.