Story by
Guardians should retain Matthew Boyd, their best starting pitcher in MLB playoffs | Ulrich
- Story by
- Guardians should retain Matthew Boyd, their best starting pitcher in MLB playoffs | Ulrich
CLEVELAND — Matthew Boyd's family tree foreshadowed his ascent with the Guardians in the MLB playoffs.
Boyd has been the team's best postseason starting pitcher , and he belongs in Cleveland beyond this year.
Advertisement
The late Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller was a cousin of Boyd's maternal great-grandmother. Boyd grew up with photographs of Feller and Sandy Koufax above his bed in his family's home in Mercer Island, Washington, he told the Beacon Journal.
A Feller statue stands outside Progressive Field, where Boyd and the Guardians prevailed 7-5 over the New York Yankees in a wild Game 3 of the American League Championship Series on Thursday night.
Guardians starter Matthew Boyd throws a pitch during the first inning against the Yankees in Game 3 of the ALCS, Oct. 17, 2024, in Cleveland.
With rookie Jhonkensy Noel hitting a two-run home run in the ninth to force extra innings and David Fry blasting a walk-off two-run homer in the 10th, the Guardians essentially rose from the dead to cut their deficit to 2-1 in the best-of-seven series. Game 4 is scheduled to begin at 8:08 p.m. Friday in Cleveland.
Advertisement
Lost in the home-run madness is the instrumental role Boyd played before the Yankees took a 4-3 lead when Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton hit back-to-back homers off Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase in the eighth inning.
ALCS Game 3 recap: Cleveland Guardians vs. New York Yankees highlights
Boyd allowed one run and two hits, walked three and struck out four in five innings of work. He produced the longest start by a Guardians pitcher this postseason, finishing with 75 pitches, including 46 strikes.
Cleveland led 2-1 when Boyd exited the game, putting him line for the win until Clase's collapse. Boyd became the first Cleveland starter to allow one run or less in any three-start span in the playoffs. He had zero postseason starts on his resume until Game 2 of the AL Division Series against the Detroit Tigers .
Guardians starter Matthew Boyd reacts during the second inning against the Yankees in Game 3 of the ALCS, Oct. 17, 2024, in Cleveland.
Boyd delivering in such a monumental moment of the ALCS solidifies this as a no-brainer: The Guardians should re-sign him rather than allow him to leave as a free agent in the upcoming offseason.
Advertisement
In Boyd's three starts this postseason, he has surrendered one run and seven hits, walked six, hit a batter and struck out 14 in 11⅔ innings. His ERA is 0.77. His WHIP is 1.11.
"I don't know if comfort is the right word, but I can't get enough of it," Boyd said of competing in the playoffs. "I think I can speak for all 26 guys in [our clubhouse] that we all feel the same way. It's put it in your vein sort of thing. It's awesome."
Jose Trevino of the Yankees is tagged out by Matthew Boyd of the Guardians during the second inning of Game 3 of the ALCS, Oct. 17, 2024, in Cleveland.
Boyd, 33, recently explained he has spent the past four years trying to reach his peak, but injuries have interfered. Most notably, the left-hander underwent Tommy John surgery after spraining the ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow on June 26, 2023. The Guardians signed the former longtime Tigers starter to a one-year deal in late June.
Advertisement
Resurrecting a career in such a meaningful way with a playoff team is special.
"You dream about taking the ball and helping do what you can to help your team win to ultimately raise that trophy," Boyd said.
A statue of Hall of Famer Bob Feller is outside Progressive Field in downtown Cleveland. An eight-time All-Star pitcher, Feller died in 2010 at the age of 92.
The last time Cleveland won the World Series in 1948, it had Feller, the franchise's all-time leader in wins (266) and strikeouts (2,581).
Boyd's family raised him to not only admire Feller's baseball legacy but also his military service. Feller enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
"He hung up everything here 'cause he knew that was the right thing to do to protect the freedoms of what we had," Boyd said. "And how talented was he? When it was all said and done, he came back and still did what he did on the field."
Guardians starter Matthew Boyd throws a first-inning pitch against the Yankees in Game 3 of the ALCS, Oct. 17, 2024, in Cleveland.
Last year, one of Boyd's friends gifted him a red No. 19 autographed by Feller. Boyd then asked Guardians visiting clubhouse manager Willie Jenks to unearth an old cream Cleveland jersey for him. Boyd is in the process of getting No. 19 stitched onto the uniform, and he plans to display the finished product in the basement of his home or cabin.
Advertisement
When Boyd glances at the jersey in the future, he'll be able to reflect on his performance for the Guardians this postseason. The organization ought to ensure his Cleveland tenure extends beyond 2024.
More on Guardians vs. Yankees: David Fry delivers walk-off homer in extras as Cleveland wins dramatic ALCS Game 3
Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Guardians should re-sign Matthew Boyd, their best playoff starter
