The Cubs and Matthew Boyd may need a reset.
Chicago found themselves down big to the Brewers in Game 1 of the National League Division Series after the southpaw was smacked around in the primary inning.
After the Cubs jumped out to a 1-0 lead because of a leadoff home run from Michael Busch, Boyd allowed three straight doubles to open the underside of the primary inning to present the lead right back.
And it didn’t stop there.
Boyd would strikeout Christian Yelich before walking Andrew Vaughn to place runners at first and second with one out.
A batter later, Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner botched an in-between hop on a bloop off the bat of Sal Frelick, bringing in one other run.
With two outs within the inning, Blake Perkins singled to herald a fourth run, knocking Boyd out of the sport.
If that wasn’t enough, Jackson Chourio — on the plate for the second time within the inning — hit a two-run single to place the Brewers up 6-1.
The Brewers would add on three more runs within the second inning, all but putting the sport out of reach barring a wild Cubs comeback.
Boyd got just two outs, ending his short outing with six runs allowed (two earned) with 4 hits given up and one walk.
The Cubs ace’s last start in the course of the wild-card round against the Padres went a lot better, tossing 4 ⅓ innings with only one run allowed during Chicago’s Game 1 win.
Boyd began Saturday’s game on just three days’ rest, which is something he had done just thrice before during his big league profession.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell indicated earlier this week that the left-hander can be given a brief leash on such a fast turnaround.
“He’s happening three days, he’s happening a small variety of pitches,” Counsell said, per MLB.com. “We wouldn’t make this decision, this is able to not be a call on a six-inning start or a 90-pitch start. We’d not be considering this. But, yeah, I believe he had his head on it, probably when he got within the dugout. Yeah, and he’s asked repeatedly about it.”
