Overview

• The Cubs named left-hander Matthew Boyd their Game 1 starter against the Padres at Wrigley Field, with San Diego countering with right-hander Nick Pivetta.
• Boyd finished 2025 at 14-8 with a 3.21 ERA over 179.2 innings in 31 starts, serving as a steady anchor of the rotation.
• The matchup is viewed as favorable for Chicago given San Diego’s weaker results versus left-handers and Boyd’s stronger performance at home.
• Rookie Cade Horton fractured a rib on Sept. 23 and was placed on the injured list, reducing the club’s starting options entering the Wild Card Series.
• Boyd brings recent October success—one earned run over 11.2 innings for Cleveland in 2024—and has spoken about the personal significance of starting before the Cubs’ first playoff crowd at Wrigley since 2018.