Chicago Cubs’ starting pitcher Matthew Boyd has had a sensational season, leading to his first All-Star game. Boyd has been the Cubs’ fill-in ace throughout the year and Chicago couldn’t have asked for a better 2025 season.
The Cubs’ starter continued his incredible season with another quality start on Saturday. Boyd threw seven innings and gave up two runs on seven hits, and struck out three batters.
Boyd also did something on Saturday that Chicago hasn’t seen since at least 1906. The Cubs’ pitcher picked off his 10th runner of the season.
Matthew Boyd Makes Cubs History
Boyd has developed one of the best pick-off move in the MLB, and he’s shown time and time again throughout this season why you shouldn’t try running on him.
In the second inning on Saturday, Washington Nationals third baseman Brady House led off with a single. However, he didn’t last long on first base, as Boyd picked up his 10th pickoff of the season.
Matthew Boyd picks off his 10th runner of the season 😮
That’s the most by a Cubs pitcher in a season since at least 1901. pic.twitter.com/7pT5bKVMLJ
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) September 6, 2025
Boyd became the first Cubs pitcher to reach 10 pickoffs in a single season since at least 1906, and he also leads the MLB in the category.
While Boyd’s pick-offs have been fun the watch this season, not many runners have reached base on him, in general. The Cubs’ starter has 2.92 ERA across 166.1 innings on the year with a 1.067 WHIP and a .230 batting average against.
Matthew Boyd has one of baseball’s best pickoff moves.
Boyd starts his motion, the base runner shifts his eyes to home plate, and—blink—Boyd throws to first, picking off the stunned runner. 😂 pic.twitter.com/WSCfJRXfeT
— Brendan Miller (@brendan_cubs) September 6, 2025
Despite Boyd’s strong outing, and history made, on Saturday, the Cubs could only muster one run, and fell 2-1 to the Nationals. The two teams will be back in action on Sunday for the rubber match of the three-game series.
