The Chicago Cubs entered the 2026 season expecting veteran left-hander Matthew Boyd to bring consistency and leadership to the top half of their rotation.
Following his first All-Star appearance in 2025 and a key role in helping the franchise return to the postseason, Boyd looked set to once again become an important piece of Chicago’s playoff push.
Instead, his season has been filled with setbacks and frustration. Earlier this year, the 35-year-old landed on the injured list with a biceps strain, leaving the Cubs without one of their most reliable veteran starters for stretches of the season.
Not long after returning, Boyd found himself back on the injured list due to a knee injury.
“Boyd’s knee started bothering him while he was playing with his kids at home,” the Associated Press reported. “Boyd agreed to a $29 million, two-year contract with Chicago in December 2024. He went 14-8 with a 3.21 ERA in 31 starts last year, making the NL All-Star team and helping the Cubs reach the playoffs for the first time since 2020.”
Chicago Cubs’ Matthew Boyd Opens Up About Freak Injury Setback
Now, the veteran pitcher has finally explained the unusual situation that led to his latest injury concern.
“My son was playing (with) Legos on the floor and I was literally squatting down, like, basically going into like criss-cross apple sauce,” Boyd shared during an appearance on “Foul Territory.” “Didn’t even get to the floor, my knee popped. It didn’t even hurt. But, I was on the floor and, as I tried to get up from the floor, like, I couldn’t put weight on it and then I couldn’t straighten it… Just a weird thing. So, that’s how it happened, as unglamorous as it sounds.”
The nature of Boyd’s injury quickly caught attention around Chicago because it happened away from the field, but the veteran emphasized that the issue likely existed beforehand and made it clear his family was not responsible.
“Probably means I had a torn meniscus for a while,” Boyd added. “Not my kids fault, my kids didn’t take me out.”
Chicago Cubs Hoping Veteran Pitcher Can Bounce Back Strongly
Boyd, who got the Opening Day start for Chicago this season, has appeared in more than 200 games and thrown over 1,100 innings across his 12-year MLB career. After outperforming his career 4.61 ERA last season, the Cubs remain optimistic he can regain that level once he returns to full health.
For now, Boyd’s priority is getting healthy and back on the mound. Still, his honest explanation serves as a reminder that even major injuries can sometimes happen during the most ordinary moments away from baseball.