CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs are working on their plans with Matthew Boyd sidelined by a knee injury.
In the meantime, they won again.
Hours after announcing Boyd is going to have surgery after hurting his left knee while hanging out with his kids, the Cubs beat the Cincinnati Reds 7-6 on Wednesday night for their eighth straight victory and 18th in 21 games overall.
Pete Crow-Armstrong hit a tying two-run homer in the ninth, and Michael Busch drove in the winning run with a bases-loaded walk in the 10th. The Cubs posted their third consecutive walk-off win for the first time since June 2009.
“We're feeling for Matty,” said outfielder Ian Happ, who also went deep for the NL Central leaders. “I think we've had a lot of news so far this year that we've worked through. But I think the position player group is experienced and has been together and deep, and I think that that was always going to carry us through 162 games.”
Boyd had an MRI that showed a meniscus issue, and manager Craig Counsell said the team isn't sure how long the left-hander is going to be out.
“Obviously it's unexpected news," Counsell said. “We're going to have to fill in around him, for sure. That's going to be our task.”
Boyd was placed on the 15-day injured list. Right-hander Trent Thornton was brought up from Triple-A Iowa, and left-hander Charlie Barnes was designated for assignment.
Thornton got three outs for the win in his Cubs debut.
“That was a heck of a game,” Thornton said. “I mean full team effort. That was fun to watch, fun to be a part of.”
The 35-year-old Boyd, who started for the Cubs on opening day, is 2-1 with a 6.00 ERA. He was activated from the 15-day IL on April 22 after being sidelined by a biceps strain.
Counsell said Boyd got hurt when he sat down with his kids and got back up.
“It happened very innocently, and he woke up this morning a healthy player. ... So he’s just trying to kind of process it,” Counsell said, “and get all the information from the doctors and figure out what’s next.”
The loss of Boyd is a major blow for Chicago, which has won 14 in a row at Wrigley Field for its longest home win streak since it also won 14 straight at the iconic ballpark in 2008.
The Cubs were already playing without right-hander Cade Horton, who is out for the season because of elbow surgery. Justin Steele is expected to return at some point this year, but his timeline is cloudy after he had a setback in his recovery from an elbow injury.
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.
With Boyd out, Javier Assad could move into the rotation at some point. But Counsell said he wasn't sure how the Cubs would cover Boyd's next scheduled start.
“That spot comes up Friday,” Counsell said. “We’re probably not going to make plans for it and just kind of figure out where, when we get to, after Thursday, kind of what we do. I mean, there will be plans, but very loose plans.”
The Cubs could get some help for their bullpen this month. Relievers Caleb Thielbar and Hunter Harvey are both expected to throw a full bullpen session on Friday, Counsell said. Thielbar is on the IL with a left hamstring strain, and Harvey is coming back from right triceps inflammation.
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