Amid pitching injuries, Cubs need Matthew Boyd to make big impact as summer goes on: ‘That’s our ace’

What constitutes an ace? And whatever your definition, do the Cubs have one?

That’s a trickier question to answer now than it was a few months ago, as injuries have torn through the team’s pitching staff, with an entire rotation and late-inning mix of relievers simultaneously on the IL, including might-have-been aces like righties Cade Horton, Ben Brown and Edward Cabrera.

The trade deadline looms, with names as enticing as two-time reigning AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal possibly on the block. But team president Jed Hoyer shied away from trading for pitching last deadline, citing an exorbitant price.

If the Cubs are going to have an ace the rest of the way, it might have to be Matthew Boyd.

That’s not a bad thing after the left-hander was an All Star last season. Heck, inside the clubhouse, he’s already got that title.

“You don’t know what one guy’s going to do,” center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong said last week in New York after Boyd made his first start back from the IL, “but the state that we’re in with what we need, in terms of pitching, that’s our ace and we’re glad that he’s back, man.

“That’s good news for us.”

Given the Cubs’ injury situation, Boyd returning to action has been huge. Though he’s been limited to fewer than 80 pitches in each of his last two starts as he builds back to full capacity, he’s been effective, allowing three runs in 9⅔ innings.

Boyd was excellent last season, but a couple injured-list trips have prevented a follow-up to this point. Tuesday’s outing was just his seventh start of the year.

The second half, though, can be his time to shine in a time of need for his team.

“This is 180 innings we got last year from Matt, and that means it’s a guy that makes every start, that you can count on, that single-handedly won some games for us going deep into games,” manager Craig Counsell said Tuesday. “That stability is something we sorely need and are going to need for the second half.”

Boyd is capable of pitching well enough to be talked about with the top arms in the league, posting a 3.21 ERA in 31 starts last season.

With the Cubs attempting to figure out a tricky pitching puzzle, Boyd can be a stabilizing force once again.

“My job is just to take the ball and go pitch every fifth day. It’s nothing outside of that,” Boyd said Tuesday. “All those things you’re saying [about providing stability] are awesome, but those are symptoms of doing what I’m supposed to do: taking the ball, regardless of the situation, going out there and just giving everything I’ve got on every single pitch.”

Thumb struck

Third baseman Alex Bregman saw his work pay off Tuesday with a big three-run homer. But he drew some attention online for what he did after the blast.

As he was rounding third base, Bregman gave a thumbs down. After crossing home plate, he did it again, this time toward the stands behind home plate, where the press box and broadcast booths are located.

Bregman followed by posting a picture of his home run on Instagram, complete with a thumbs-down emoji.

Two days earlier, Bregman stirred up anger among fans already frustrated by his lack of production by not running full speed on a bobbled ground ball, receiving an on-air admonishment of sorts from announcer Jim Deshaies.

Asked Wednesday what the thumbs-down celebration was, Bregman responded, “Nothing.”

Asked if it was a message to anybody, he said, “No.”