Matthew Boyd

Active

Chicago Cubs · Pitcher

Age 356' 3" · 223 lbsThrows Left

FBaseball Overview

Boyd comes to Chicago as a mid-rotation starter who profiles as a steady contributor in strikeouts and wins, though he'll need to show improved efficiency to deliver on his upside. His recent ERA and WHIP numbers suggest he's been prone to giving up hard contact and elevated pitch counts, which limits his ceiling in ERA-dependent leagues but shouldn't scare away managers looking for strikeout upside—his 35 strikeouts over limited innings demonstrate he still has that punch. The Cubs' pitching-friendly environment offers some hope for improvement in his ERA metrics, and if he can tighten his mechanics and pitch deeper into games, he could be a league-average starter with sneaky value rather than a drag on your pitching stats. For fantasy purposes, target him as a back-end rotation piece in redraft leagues where his win total and strikeout floor have appeal despite the volatility in ERA and WHIP.

MLB Pitching

Year	Team	G	GS	W	L	ERA	WHIP	K	IP	BB
2015	2 teams▼	13	12	1	6	7.53	1.59	43	57.1	20
2016	Detroit Tigers	20	18	6	5	4.53	1.29	82	97.1	29
2017	Detroit Tigers	26	25	6	11	5.27	1.56	110	135.0	53
2018	Detroit Tigers	31	31	9	13	4.39	1.16	159	170.1	51
2019	Detroit Tigers	32	32	9	12	4.56	1.23	238	185.1	50
2020	Detroit Tigers	12	12	3	7	6.71	1.48	60	60.1	22
2021	Detroit Tigers	15	15	3	8	3.89	1.27	67	78.2	23
2022	Seattle Mariners	10	0	2	0	1.35	0.98	13	13.1	8
2023	Detroit Tigers	15	15	5	5	5.45	1.32	73	71.0	25
2024	Cleveland Guardians	8	8	2	2	2.72	1.13	46	39.2	13
2025	Chicago Cubs	31	31	14	8	3.21	1.09	154	179.2	42
2026	Chicago Cubs	7	7	3	1	5.08	1.40	37	33.2	10
Career	Totals	220	206	63	78	4.59	1.28	1082	1121.2	346

Source: MLB Stats API · Multi-team seasons show combined totals — click to expand

Minor League Pitching

Year	Team	G	GS	W	L	ERA	WHIP	K	IP	BB
2013	2 teams▼	8	5	0	3	2.63	0.75	23	24	4
2014	2 teams▼	26	26	6	7	3.17	1.15	147	133.1	33
2015	3 teams▼	7	7	3	1	2.63	1.00	38	41.0	9
2016	Toledo Mud Hens	11	11	2	5	2.25	1.11	57	64.0	18
2017	Toledo Mud Hens	8	8	3	3	2.82	0.94	53	51.0	13
2021	Toledo Mud Hens	3	3	0	0	0.00	0.54	11	9.1	0
2022	Tacoma Rainiers	6	0	1	1	2.25	0.50	14	8.0	0
2024	3 teams▼	5	5	1	0	0.83	0.65	27	21.2	2
2026	2 teams▼	4	4	1	1	5.40	1.20	20	16.2	3
Career	Totals	90	81	23	22	2.46	0.97	460	442.2	100

Source: MLB Stats API · Multi-team seasons show combined totals — click to expand

Game Log2026 season

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Pitching Analytics2026 season · via Baseball Savant

Click for year to year changes

FB Velo92.6 mph

Avg Spin2202 rpm

Whiff %30.2%

K %25.5%

BB %6.9%

Hard Hit %51.5%

Barrel %10.3%

xERA4.74

xBA Against0.265

xSLG Against0.451

BA Against0.276

SLG Against0.433

GB%41.2%

FB%21.6%

What These Stats Mean

FB Velo — Average fastball velocity. Harder throwers generate more swings and misses, setting up every other pitch in their arsenal. Velocity is the foundation of strikeout upside.

Avg Spin — Average spin rate across all pitches. Higher spin creates more movement and makes pitches harder to square up — elite spinners run better strikeout and batting average against numbers.

Whiff % — Swings-and-misses per swing. The most direct measure of a pitcher's ability to miss bats and the best leading indicator of strikeout rate.

K % — Strikeout rate per batter faced. The core fantasy pitching stat — high K% means reliable strikeout totals that hold up even in shorter starts.

BB % — Walk rate per batter faced. The primary control metric. High BB% tanks ERA and WHIP and keeps baserunners on constantly. Elite starters typically run below 7%.

Hard Hit % — Percentage of batted balls hit 95 mph or harder against. Low hard-hit% means weak contact, protecting both ERA and the defense behind the pitcher.

Barrel % — Percentage of batted balls barreled against. The most direct home run predictor — low barrel% pitchers rarely give up long balls.

xERA — Expected ERA based on contact quality allowed, removing the effect of sequencing, luck, and defense. Better predictor of future ERA than ERA itself.

xBA Against — Expected batting average opponents should hit based on contact quality. A gap between xBA and actual BA indicates unsustainable luck in either direction.

xSLG Against — Expected slugging allowed based on contact quality. High xSLG against predicts future extra-base damage; low xSLG means the pitcher is genuinely suppressing power.

BA Against — Actual batting average opponents are hitting — a key WHIP component. Check xBA to see if the number is sustainable.

SLG Against — Actual slugging allowed. Captures hits, doubles, triples, and home runs — lower means the pitcher is limiting the power damage he gives up.

GB% — Ground ball rate. High GB% pitchers generate double plays, limit home runs, and keep the ball in the park — great for protecting ERA and WHIP ratios.

FB% — Fly ball rate. High FB% pitchers give up more air contact — dangerous when combined with high exit velocity, less so when contact is soft.

Loading player data...

Year

Team

ERA

WHIP

2015

2 teams▼

7.53

1.59

57.1

2016

Detroit Tigers

4.53

1.29

97.1

2017

Detroit Tigers

5.27

1.56

110

135.0

2018

Detroit Tigers

4.39

1.16

159

170.1

2019

Detroit Tigers

4.56

1.23

238

185.1

2020

Detroit Tigers

6.71

1.48

60.1

2021

Detroit Tigers

3.89

1.27

78.2

2022

Seattle Mariners

1.35

0.98

13.1

2023

Detroit Tigers

5.45

1.32

71.0

2024

Cleveland Guardians

2.72

1.13

39.2

2025

Chicago Cubs

3.21

1.09

154

179.2

2026

Chicago Cubs

5.08

1.40

33.2

Career

Totals

220

206

4.59

1.28

1082

1121.2

346

Year

Team

ERA

WHIP

2013

2 teams▼

2.63

0.75

2014

2 teams▼

3.17

1.15

147

133.1

2015

3 teams▼

2.63

1.00

41.0

2016

Toledo Mud Hens

2.25

1.11

64.0

2017

Toledo Mud Hens

2.82

0.94

51.0

2021

Toledo Mud Hens

0.00

0.54

9.1

2022

Tacoma Rainiers

2.25

0.50

8.0

2024

3 teams▼

0.83

0.65

21.2

2026

2 teams▼

5.40

1.20

16.2

Career

Totals

2.46

0.97

460

442.2

100