Matthew Boyd Named Opening Day Starter for Chicago Cubs

Matthew Boyd’s time with Team USA in the World Baseball Classic is probably over. The Cubs need him to be ready for his next honor.

Matthew Boyd returned to the Chicago Cubs camp in Mesa, Arizona, on Thursday following a stint with Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. Although the Americans were embarrassed by Team Italy in their pool-play finale, they made it into the quarterfinals with Team Mexico’s loss on Wednesday night. Team USA will face Team Canada in Miami, Florida, on Friday night.

Boyd, however, will more than likely be removed from Team USA’s roster for the remainder of the tournament. He was a part of the bullpen, and his appearances would come with a limit of pitches thrown. Boyd would potentially hinder the progress of being stretched out as a starter in the Cubs’ rotation.

The Cubs will need Boyd to return to regular camp programming immediately. It was announced on Thursday that he will be the first one to take a stroll to the mound at Wrigley Field in 2026.

The Chicago Cubs posted on their social media accounts on Thursday that Matthew Boyd will be their starting pitcher on Opening Day. Boyd was an All-Star in 2025, posting a 14-8 record with a 3.21 ERA. He also made three starts for the Cubs in the postseason.

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Boyd was signed to a two-year contract by the Cubs before the 2025 season, with a $15 million mutual-option for the 2027 season. There were questions about the Cubs making this move. At the time, some of the big-name pitchers were still available on the market. The Cubs were rumored to be interested in a few. However, Boyd answered those questions by having one of the better seasons of his career.

Now, Boyd is given one of the highest honors of being part of a starting rotation. He will serve as the ace for the Cubs and start the season for them on Opening Day.

In 2025, Shota Imanaga started the season for the Cubs on what the league considered Opening Day. A Cubs “home” series started on March 18 with a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Japan. Imanaga has also started the last two Wrigley Field openers for the Cubs.

Boyd will join Imanaga and Justin Steele (2024) as the only rostered players to start for the Cubs on Opening Day.