These 2 Cubs pitchers deserve a spot on the National League's All-Star roster

Fan voting for the MLB All-Star Game has come to a close, with fans selecting both Pete Crow-Armstrong and Kyle Tucker to start for the National League. Bench players and pitchers are traditionally chosen by both players and managers, (rightfully?) eliminating the need for fan voting. As we get closer and closer to the All-Star Game in Atlanta, two Chicago Cubs pitchers have done more than enough to claim a spot on the team.

Matthew Boyd has pitched like an ace in the absence of Shota Imanaga

Once a doubted free-agent signing, Matthew Boyd has taken the league by storm with one of the best starts to a season in his big-league career. With fellow left-hander Shota Imanaga missing over a month due to injury, Boyd stepped up to fill his place in the rotation and has delivered the Cubs an ace-worthy performance throughout 2025. Boyd is among the best pitchers in the National League, tied for second in the NL with eight wins to go along with an incredible 2.65 ERA in what’s become an amazing comeback story for the southpaw.

One thing to keep an eye on as we get into the second half: Boyd has already thrown 98 2/3 innings this year - his most in a single season since 2019. Can he stay healthy for a full season? And, if so, will he continue delivering results like he has to this point? It'll be a huge storyline for the Cubs down the stretch.

Daniel Palencia has become the closer the Cubs have been searching for

Good teams often have a lights-out closer at the back end of the bullpen, and the Cubs have struggled to find one this season. Offseason acquisition Ryan Pressly has been a bust, and Porter Hodge was inconsistent in his stead before succumbing to an oblique strain that led him to be sidelined for an extensive period. Running out of options, the Cubs tried out Daniel Palencia in the role, and he took the opportunity and ran with it. 

Palencia has dominated as the Cubs’ closer, recording ten saves while striking out 35 in 31 innings of work. His metrics give him even more credit, as he is one of the top pitchers in baseball when it comes to both strikeout percentage and pitch velocity. With his fastball constantly hitting triple-digits, Palencia has established himself as the bullpen piece the Cubs truly needed.