The Chicago Cubs have an elite defense. The infield alone is manned by two of the games best infielders, and every single member of the Cubs has made significant contributions to that reputation. They used exactly that defense to hone in the Pirates and take home the victory in extras, but it was Matthew Boyd's comments in the locker room that really grabbed the attention.
Matthew Boyd put up excellent numbers on Friday, and he gave his team every chance to win. Though the offense only supported with one run through nine innings, Boyd did his job in holding back the Pirates. Boyd's work included his career 1,100th strikeout. But he didn't do it alone. His team made some extraordinary plays to help take home the victory.
"It's amazing. I'm playing in front of a defense this good ever. I mean, it's really special when, when you see the guys flying around and doing stuff like that. They just, they never take a pitch off, they go hard, and then at the same time, they also just have the baseball IQs through the roof."Matthew Boyd
NICO HOERNER, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! pic.twitter.com/NHadFOuWWM
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) July 24, 2026
Nico Hoerner has demonstrated his prowess on the infield time and time again. Nobody can question whether he can perform out there. This particular play illustrates several factors that show exactly why the Cubs have what it takes to make a run at the Brewers and the top spot in the NL Central.
Hoerner makes an excellent play that should have resulted in at least a single and turned it into a run-stopping out. He displayed the reaction time and ability necessary to compete on a team with playoff aspirations, displayed quick thinking and quick decision making skills in committing his throw to third. Not only did this prevent the run from scoring, Nico's quick reaction caught the runner off guard and got the out.
As I said above, Hoerner has always shown prowess on the infield. The alarming thing is how regularly he's been making these spectacular plays this season. Sometimes I think the Cubs may be better off with just a pitcher, a catcher, and Hoerner out there. He'd probably still make no errors.
Hoerner’s quick thinking was the latest example of why Boyd has so much confidence in the defense behind him. If the Cubs are going to chase down the Brewers and reclaim the top spot in the NL Central, that elite defense will have to remain at the heart of their success.
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