SAN FRANCISCO, CA – AUGUST 26: Chicago Cubs pitcher Matthew Boyd (16) walks off the field during a MLB game between the Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants, on Augest 26, 2025, at Oracle Park in San Francisco, CA. (Photo by Trinity Machan/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Chicago Cubs entered the 2026 season counting on veteran left-hander Matthew Boyd to provide stability near the top of their rotation.
After earning his first All-Star selection in 2025 and helping the club return to the postseason, Boyd appeared positioned to play another significant role in Chicago’s playoff aspirations.
Instead, the season has been marked by frustration and interruptions. The 35-year-old already spent time on the injured list earlier this year with a biceps strain, forcing the Cubs to navigate portions of the schedule without one of their most experienced starters.
Shortly after that, Boyd returned to the injured list with a knee injury.
“Boyd’s knee started bothering him while he was playing with his kids at home,” the Associated Press reported. “Boyd agreed to a $29 million, two-year contract with Chicago in December 2024. He went 14-8 with a 3.21 ERA in 31 starts last year, making the NL All-Star team and helping the Cubs reach the playoffs for the first time since 2020.”
Chicago Cubs’ Matthew Boyd Breaks Silence After Freak Injury Setback
And now the veteran pitcher has shed light on the surprising circumstances behind that latest injury setback.
“My son was playing (with) Legos on the floor and I was literally squatting down, like, basically going into like criss-cross apple sauce,” Boyd revealed during an appearance on “Foul Territory.” “Didn’t even get to the floor, my knee popped. It didn’t even hurt. But, I was on the floor and, as I tried to get up from the floor, like, I couldn’t put weight on it and then I couldn’t straighten it… Just a weird thing. So, that’s how it happened, as unglamorous as it sounds.”
Boyd’s knee injury turned some heads in Chicago when the team revealed the cause because of its domestic nature, but Boyd added that he was probably already dealing with the knee injury to some extent and he emphasized that his family was not to blame.
“Probably means I had a torn meniscus for a while,” Boyd added. “Not my kids fault, my kids didn’t take me out.”
Chicago Cubs Hopeful For Strong Return From Key Pitcher After Injury Setback
The 35-year-old Boyd, who pitched Opening Day for the Cubs this season, has started more than 200 games with more than 1,100 innings pitched in his 12-year big-league career. Last season, he pitched much better than his 4.61 career ERA and the Cubs are holding out hope he can return to that form once he gets healthy.
For now, Boyd’s focus remains on returning to the mound. But his candid explanation serves as a reminder that even the most significant injuries sometimes originate from the most routine moments away from the baseball field.