Cubs Ace Matthew Boyd Ranks No. 2 in Key MLB Stat to Start 2026

Matthew Boyd didn’t look his best on the mound on Opening Day.

The starting left-hander was replaced by Ben Brown after just 3.2 innings, having allowed six earned runs, five hits, and a home run. The Nationals went on to beat the Cubs, 10-4.

One bright spot from the less-than-stellar outing? Boyd posted seven strikeouts and walked only one batter during the three and one-third innings he was on the mound.

Despite the outcome of Opening Day, Boyd’s command of the strike zone is clearly improving.

Boyd has second-highest strikeout rate in MLB to start 2026

Following his second start of the season on Wednesday, Boyd’s 45.9% strikeout rate is second-best among qualified pitchers. In each of his starts thus far, he’s recorded 20 swing-and-miss pitches.

Matthew Boyd has induced 40 whiffs through his first two starts of 2026, posting a 45.9% K rate that ranks 2nd among qualified pitchers.

Here are all 20 from yesterday. pic.twitter.com/GI7MhH4Z18
— Carson Wolf (@TheWrigleyWire) April 2, 2026

Boyd helped lead the Cubs past the Angels for a 6-2 victory on Wednesday, recording 10 strikeouts over five and two-thirds innings, just three shy of his career high. During his stint in Detroit, the left-hander struck out 13 White Sox batters on July 4, 2019.

The cold never bothered him anyway

Temperatures at Wrigley Field Wednesday were around 49 degrees, with 22 mph winds blowing in from left field.

Boyd took the mound in the Cubs’ usual short-sleeve uniforms, but notably without any baselayer or undershirt, shocking some of his teammates.

Apr 1, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Matthew Boyd (16) delivers during the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Wrigley Field. | Matt Marton-Imagn Images

“I was a little like, ‘what are we doing here?’” Carson Kelly said postgame, when commenting on Boyd’s lack of sleeves. “I know he's from the Northwest, and he's pitched in some cold, but yeah, I mean, seemed to work for him.”

The catcher said temperatures may have to be in the negatives before Boyd will wear sleeves.

“He might not even do it then,” Kelly joked.

Carson Kelly was shocked to see Matthew Boyd out on the mound with no sleeves today 😂 pic.twitter.com/OmnnCQ905J
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) April 1, 2026

Boyd, who grew up in Washington state and attended Oregon State University, is certainly no stranger to inclement weather.

Learning, adapting, moving forward

But for the left-hander, it’s more than being used to the cold.

“The mindset doesn’t change,” Boyd said. “The geography, the weather, time of day, the team – it can’t change what you expect of yourself when you go out there. So you just deal with it. Whatever it is, you deal with it as it comes.”

And deal with it he did.

Part of his focus Wednesday was improving on his first start of the season.

Mar 26, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs pitcher Matthew Boyd (16) throws against the Washington Nationals during the first inning at Wrigley Field. | Matt Marton-Imagn Images

“The Opening Day start, I just needed to make an adjustment faster,” Boyd said. “I wasn’t able to do that. You learn from it, you go on.”

Cubs manager Craig Counsell was pleased with Boyd’s performance against the Angels.

“Just being in-zone and competitive with the changeup really set him up as he went through the lineup the second time and made him good throughout the whole start,” Counsell said. “He pitched really, really well. The swing-and-miss in both starts is always encouraging. That’s an important indicator that the stuff is good.”

Boyd’s teammates also noticed his strong command of the zone Wednesday.

“He was great today,” second baseman Nico Hoerner said. “I felt like they were constantly off-time with his combo of four-seams and changeups. Really effective, so many swings and misses, which is huge.”