Craig Counsell defends decision to pitch Matthew Boyd on short rest

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell defended his decision to pitch Matthew Boyd on three days’ rest in Saturday’s 9-3 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers.

The decision proved disastrous for the Cubs, as Boyd threw just 30 pitches and saw the Brewers score six runs in the first inning en route to a blowout win in Game 1 of the National League Division Series.

Counsell said the team was “very comfortable” with the decision to have Boyd pitch with one fewer day of rest than normal.

“We’ve got to make decisions. We went with Matt,” Counsell said. “We’re very comfortable — I was very comfortable putting Matt Boyd on the mound today. The whole organization was comfortable putting Matt Boyd on the mound today.”

Boyd pitched Game 1 of the Wild Card Series against the San Diego Padres, throwing 58 pitches and giving up one earned run in 4.1 innings of work.

Counsell said the decision to pull Boyd from the game Tuesday played into the decision to have him pitch Saturday.

“I think we just didn’t feel like the number of pitches that he threw on Tuesday, what he’s done all season, being our best starting pitcher,” he said.

Four of the runs Boyd allowed were unearned, with Nico Hoerner’s error in the first inning helping fuel the Milwaukee rally early in the game.

Overall the Cubs gave up nine runs in the first two innings, and solo home runs from Hoerner and Ian Happ couldn’t close the gap as Chicago fell behind in the series.

It’s unclear at this point which Cubs pitcher will take the mound for Game 2 on Monday night. Shota Imanaga, who pitched Game 2 against the Padres, could work the game on normal rest, or the Cubs could turn to Colin Rea, who pitched in relief in that game.