Cubs News: Matthew Boyd to start Game 1, Cade Horton ruled out for NLDS

Left-hander Matthew Boyd will take the ball for the Chicago Cubs in Game 1 of the NLDS on Saturday, starting on just three days' rest for the first time since 2017. That may seem troubling, but manager Craig Counsell made it clear: this won't be a bulk-innings start for Boyd, who tossed 4 1/3 innings of one-run ball in the Wild Card Round opener against San Diego last week.

“He's going on three days, he's going on a small number of pitches,” Counsell told MLB.com. “We wouldn't make this decision, this would not be a decision on a six-inning start or a 90-pitch start. We would not be considering this. But, yeah, I think he had his head on it, probably when he got in the dugout. Yeah, and he's asked repeatedly about it.”

In his career, he's made just three starts on three days rest, working to a 4.70 ERA in 15 1/3 innings of work. He's struggled against Milwaukee in his career, with a 9.00 ERA in five starts, but clearly Counsell and the Cubs are looking for better results on Saturday afternoon at American Family Field.

From there, we could see Colin Rea, Michael Soroka or Javier Assad come on in relief to eat some innings - but Counsell hasn't tipped his hand on who he's planning to turn to.

"I think everybody is considered a multiple-inning guy,” Counsell said, when asked about late-inning arm Daniel Palencia being used midgame. “I don't think there is a one-inning pitcher. Everybody is considered a multiple-inning guy. The playoffs kind of moves up leverage. Every out is leverage. There's no such thing as a non-leverage out. In the regular season, we think about it totally differently."

Cubs rookie Cade Horton ruled out for the NLDS with his rib injury

The earliest Cade Horton could have returned from his IL stint is prior to a potential NLDS Game 5, but that's not in the cards. Counsell said Horton was feeling good, but the team hasn't started to test his recovery just yet. The Cubs are focused on 'encouraging healing' and the rookie right-hander hasn't thrown off a mound yet.

A legitimate NL Rookie of the Year candidate, Horton looked like a primetime postseason arm during the second half, but his freak rib fracture has removed him from the playoff picture, at least for now. If the Cubs want to see him take the mound in October, they'll first have to put away the rival Brewers and advance to an NLCS date with the Dodgers or Phillies.