Cubs' Matthew Boyd to Have Surgery After Suffering Knee Injury While Playing With His Kids

The Chicago Cubs are in first place in the National League Central, but the injury hits just keep coming.

Manager Craig Counsell told reporters starting pitcher Matthew Boyd will undergo surgery after suffering a left meniscus injury. He has an unknown timetable for return after suffering the injury while sitting down to play with his children, per ESPN's Jesse Rogers.

Boyd was an All-Star in 2025 in his first season with the Cubs, so losing him alone would be a difficult blow for the team.

However, the starting rotation will also be without ace Cade Horton for the entire 2026 campaign after the right-hander suffered an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery. What's more, 2023 All-Star Justin Steele was limited to just four starts last year because of his own Tommy John surgery and is yet to pitch in 2026.

Steele took to social media on April 29 and revealed he suffered a "frustrating" setback in his rehab process, so it remains to be seen if and when he will be available for the Cubs.

That is just the starting rotation, as key bullpen pieces such as Hunter Harvey, Porter Hodge, Caleb Thielbar and Riley Martin are all sidelined. Star closer Daniel Palencia also just returned from the injured list himself.

All the pitching injuries have forced Counsell to adjust on the fly, and the team has still managed to thrive with a 24-12 record. The Cubs are three games ahead of the second-place St. Louis Cardinals in a National League Central division with all five teams above .500.

But they can also only afford so many more injuries to the pitching staff if they hope to play in October.

Boyd himself was already on the injured list once this season with a biceps injury and seemed to be rounding back into form Sunday when he allowed just two runs and four hits while striking out five in six innings of work during a win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

That momentum now comes to a halt with his latest setback, which will put even more pressure on Shota Imanaga and Edward Cabrera to carry the rotation.

Javier Assad, who had been moved to the bullpen to help account for all the injuries there, will likely slide back into the rotation as Chicago looks to continue winning despite a dire injury situation.