Cubs provide strongest hint yet about Matt Boyd's return to the rotation

Matthew Boyd should be back in the Chicago Cubs' rotation by the end of the week. While the Cubs' game against the New York Mets was postponed, Boyd crossed an important item off his to-do list on Monday.

After having a minor-league rehab start over the weekend, Boyd threw a normal bullpen session on Monday. As Boyd was previously making his return from meniscus surgery, it was at this stage last time when his return was halted. The veteran felt lingering shoulder soreness in his throwing shoulder, forcing the Cubs to pause his throwing program for a week.

Pitching with High-A South Bend over the weekend, Boyd tossed four scoreless innings while striking out seven. Most importantly, reports on Sunday were that he was feeling good. Assuming Boyd doesn't report any soreness on Tuesday, it's clear when he will make his return to the rotation.

Matthew Boyd's return to the Cubs' rotation is imminent

Edward Cabrera will pitch on Tuesday for the Cubs, while Shota Imanaga and Javier Assad will be starters for the team's doubleheader against the Mets on Thursday. As of now, Thursday's starter is to be determined. It would seem that Boyd will get that start, with Ben Brown tapped to go against the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday.

Needless to say, it's an important moment for the Cubs' pitching staff. While injuries have thinned the rotation throughout the season, the bullpen suddenly looks like a mash unit. With Daniel Palencia and Hunter Harvey on the IL, regression from Caleb Thielbar and Phil Maton, the Cubs don't have a clear go-to option for Counsell in the bullpen. While Colin Rea won't fix that specific problem, he certainly could be a solution for when the Cubs need to bridge the gap to the end of the game when they need a bulk arm.

For where the Cubs are right now, the trade deadline isn't going to help them. It's still possible the deadline can be a meaningful crutch for the Cubs by the end of July, but the pitching staff needs to get healthy. That starts with Boyd's probable return on Thursday, followed by the return of Palencia, and Jameson Taillon by the end of July. Justin Steele resumed his throwing program on Monday, and remains cautiously on track for a return by the end of the regular season.

Getting healthy is an important step for the Cubs correcting what has wronged them this season, and it's going to start with Boyd's return.

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