Matthew Boyd threw a bullpen session on Sunday and is on track to make his second rehab start in Iowa later this week, a sign the Cubs left-hander has likely avoided a long-term setback from the bicep injury that put him on the injured list. If everything keeps moving in the right direction, Boyd could be lined up to pitch next week in a home series against the Philadelphia Phillies.
That would come at an important time for a Cubs pitching staff that has already been stretched by injuries. Cade Horton is done for the season, Phil Maton has been out for a period because of a knee injury and Hunter Harvey also missed time with an arm injury. The club is also about to enter a run of 13 games in 13 days, a stretch that will test every healthy arm it has.
Boyd’s progress gives the Cubs at least one piece of encouraging news after a difficult stretch on the mound. His return would not solve everything, but it would give the team another veteran option just as the schedule tightens and the margin for error gets thinner.
