Cubs punch their postseason ticket; but a huge red flag continues to wave

Goal number one: complete. The Chicago Cubs will play October baseball after locking down a postseason berth in Wednesday's win over the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. No, it's not the goal, but it's a box you have to check to reach that ultimate finish line - and the Cubs have checked it.

It wasn't a pretty win, though. After being staked to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first, Cubs starter Matthew Boyd allowed a massive three-run shot to Pirates catcher Joey Bart in the bottom of the inning - and managed just three innings, allowing four earned on seven hits before giving way to the bullpen.

That outing continues a recent string of rocky outings for the veteran southpaw, who has allowed four or more earned runs in five of his last six starts. It's not a wholly unexpected decline for Boyd who, after not having pitched more than 78 2/3 innings since 2019, is up to a team-leading 174 1/3 innings on the year - the most by any Cubs starter since Kyle Hendricks' 180 frames in 2021.

Matthew Boyd needs rest before the Cubs start postseason action

With Boyd slotted to take the ball two more times in the regular season, now feels like an ideal time to let him take a blow, either via a bullpen game or just looking for him to serve as an opener, either against the Mets or Cardinals. He's got an important role to play in October. After all, he's been a godsend for a rotation that's weathered injury after injury - and has gone virtually the entire season without the man viewed as the staff ace heading into the year, Justin Steele.

A first-time All-Star in 2025, Boyd was brilliant for much of the season, but as his workload has creeped higher and higher (he's only thrown more than 174 innings once in his 11-year MLB career), his effectiveness has vanished, raising major questions about how Craig Counsell will set up his rotation once the Cubs lock down the top overall wild card seed (or, by a miracle, overtake the Brewers for the NL Central crown)

As Boyd has faded, the stock of rookie right-hander Cade Horton has only risen, leading many to wonder if he'll get the ball in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series. Jameson Taillon has been incredibly sharp of late, and could factor into Counsell's plans - and let's not overlook Shota Imanaga, either. Counsell has options, but before he makes his plan, getting Boyd some rest needs to be a top priority.