Alan Kornspan
Believeland Media
Taking the mound in game two for the Cleveland Guardians on Monday afternoon will be Matthew Boyd.
The Guardians acquired Boyd mid-season as a free-agent after Boyd spent most of his career (8 seasons) with the Detroit Tigers.
After spending the 2023 season with the Tigers, Boyd pitched eight games for the Guardians during the 2024 regular season with his first start coming on August 13th in a 2-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox.
In the eight games Boyd started, he averaged about five innings per outing.
In 39.2 innings pitched this season, Boyd compiled a 2-2 record with a 2.72 ERA and 46 strikeouts.
In Sunday's press conference Boyd expressed how grateful he is to have a chance to pitch in the postseason. In addition, he discussed the Guardians excellent cohesiveness and the mindset he plans to bring to the mound in game two.
First, Boyd expressed his gratefulness for the opportunity to pitch for the Guardians in the playoffs.
“Man it's -- I just have so much gratitude to be where I am right now,”Boyd said.
Boyd added, “I've probably said that to all you guys so many times already, but I'm just, I'm truly grateful.”
In addition to being grateful to be pitching this season for the Guardians, Boyd commented on what he believed is an important reason for the Guardians success, the cohesiveness of the team.
“I think something that sticks out about this ball club is the cohesiveness, and it's -- really, it's not only the cohesiveness, how close the guys are in this clubhouse, how close we are as a group, they made me feel welcome within days of being here,” said Boyd.”
Boyd continued, “You know, in baseball you gotta be around your teammates and coaches more than you are your family, you know, for the better part of seven months, plus. So, gosh, with that, like it's -- I think when you like being around each other, it makes things a lot of fun at the field. So I think that's one separator with this group.”
With his gratefulness and the excellent team chemistry of the Guardians, Boyd said his mindset tomorrow when he takes the mound will be focused on getting outs. He added that this is the same mindset that he brings to the mound during the regular season.
“My job is to get outs,” said Boyd. “All right. Vogt is the one that's in charge of kind of pulling the right levers, and my job is to get outs as long as I'm out there.”
“So I think more than ever it's like you just -- the game is the same. You go pitch and, I mean, get as many outs as you can while it's asked, and then let the manager, let Vogter pull back on the reins when it's time to flip it to somebody else sort of thing.”
“Mentality shouldn't change. Outs are outs, and you just go get them as long as you're told to.”
Guardians manager, Steven Vogt, said that he is excited to have Boyd on the mound to start game two.
“I mean, obviously, I don't know what it's like to be in his shoes, but I can imagine, you know, after what he's gone through over the last year and a half with Tommy John and signing a contract halfway through the year and getting himself back and being back on the mound, and now he gets to take the ball at a postseason game against the team that he's spent the most time with in his career, I think it's gotta be a special day for Matthew and his family,” said Vogt.
“And we're definitely excited to watch him take the ball in that situation.”
Boyd will start for the Guardians on Monday against the Tigers in Game 2 of the ALDS at Progressive field. First pitch is scheduled for 4:08pm.
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