Cubs left-hander Matthew Boyd set to return from injured list after rehab look at High-A South Bend

The Chicago Cubs are preparing to get left-hander Matthew Boyd back from the injured list, with the club targeting his next step as early as Thursday’s game against the New York Mets. The plan comes after Boyd progressed through his rehab workload and then completed a throwing session at Citi Field without any setbacks.

Boyd’s most recent rehab appearance came for High-A South Bend. In that start, he logged four scoreless innings, and the outing served as the latest checkpoint in his return process after dealing with ailments that had sidelined him.

Following the rehab start, Boyd advanced to a bullpen session at Citi Field. He threw 30 pitches in the session and, according to the Cubs, did so without any problems, indicating the velocity and effort he needs can be supported again as the return date approaches.

Cubs manager and pitching staff decisions around a returning starter tend to balance timing, workload, and how the pitcher handles the intensity of live-game hitters after a layoff. In that context, the sequence of a scoreless rehab outing followed by a clean bullpen is the kind of progression teams use to reduce the risk of a second trip back to the IL.

For Chicago, adding a healthy left-handed starter matters beyond a single outing. The Cubs’ rotation needs depth and flexibility, especially with the bullpen serving as the backstop in late-inning situations and the lineup book relying on starter matchups over the course of a series.

Boyd’s return also frames a quick operational question for the Cubs: if he is activated for the Mets series as planned, his first start will likely shape how Chicago manages the rest of its week, including the short-term availability of other starters and relievers who have been covering innings while he was out.

The Cubs’ update does not offer additional operational details beyond the clean throwing sessions and the target window, so what to watch next is straightforward. After activation, the key will be how Boyd’s outing is managed in terms of pitch count and how he tracks hitters in a full competitive start, not just a rehab environment.