Chicago Cubs: 5 pitchers to monitor on trade block

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Matthew Boyd

Starting Pitcher

Detroit Tigers

ERA: 4.13

WHIP: 1.13

IP: 120.0

K: 160

BB: 24

Statistically speaking, Matthew Boyd is having the best season of his MLB career. The 28-year-old is currently sporting a career-best in ERA, WHIP and already has more strikeouts than he’s ever had in a season.

The intriguing thing about Boyd at the moment, however, is the fact that he has gotten a little worse as the season wears on. In five starts during the month of April, Boyd’s ERA was a strong 2.78. Then, for the month of May alone, he dropped it to 2.55.

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But, June is where he began crumbling a bit. In five June starts, his ERA was a combined 5.90. Now, over his first three starts of July, Boyd’s average during that time span is 6.38. Around mid-June, he was looking like one of the better stories in baseball and set to become quite the trade target.

Still, he could get dealt and would make any team stronger overall. The encouraging thing is that Boyd’s ERA at home has been much better (3.36 this year) and, if the Cubs continue to give their guys run support, Boyd would be a solid addition.

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