The Chicago Cubs are well-equipped to make a run at the National League Central crown this summer. With the addition of outfielder Kyle Tucker, the emergence of prospect Matt Shaw, and a lethal one-two punch at the top of the rotation in Shota Imanaga and Justin Steele, the Cubs have one of their best-looking rosters since 2016. One of the most important players in the team’s success is Matthew Boyd, a veteran, left-handed pitcher in his first season with the club. He figures to slot into the fourth starter role, behind Imanaga, Steele, and Jameson Taillon.

Here’s what Taillon had to say about his new teammate: “He’s pretty nasty,” Taillon told Jordan Bastian of MLB.com. “I think if he’s healthy, he’s an X factor for us this year.” After undergoing Tommy John surgery halfway through his 2023 campaign with the Detroit Tigers, Boyd returned for the Cleveland Guardians at the end of 2024. He went 2-2 over eight starts with a 2.72 ERA, 1.134 WHIP, and 10.4 strikeouts/nine innings.

Boyd signed a two-year, $29 million contract with Chicago this offseason and the expectation is that he can replicate that 2024 performance. Even though he is in the latter half of his career at 34 years old, Boyd has been one of those rare pitchers who has seen more success north of 30. Since 2021, he has an ERA of 4.04 over 202 and 2/3 innings, whereas his first six seasons saw an ERA of 5.08.

It’s not all about overpowering velocity and incredible stuff, but rather a command and deception-based approach. It has worked wonders for his career and should he maintain his reliability, he can be an X-factor this summer.