👋 Good morning!

Nothing like a midday playoff baseball game on a Tuesday afternoon.

What’s next — The NHL opens its regular season at 4 p.m. next Tuesday between the Blackhawks and the reigning Stanley Cup champions?

Ope, that’s right. Never mind. Silly me.

– Patrick Norton

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Game 1.

Who do you turn to in Game 1 of the NL Wild Card when Cade Horton’s hurt and Shota Imanaga’s struggling?

Matthew Boyd.

Boyd takes the mound this afternoon in the Cubs’ first postseason game with fans in attendance since 2018.

Over 31 starts and 179.2 innings this season, Boyd, 34, struck out 154 batters and compiled a 3.21 ERA, earning an All-Star selection in the process.

In two starts against the Padres back in April, Boyd threw 11.1 innings, allowing two runs on 11 hits and three walks while striking out eight.

He ran into a bit of a wall in the back half of the year as he surpassed 100 innings thrown for the first time since 2019. In his final 11 starts of the year, Boyd posted a 5.16 ERA and surrendered nine home runs.

But the club hasn’t wavered on Boyd — something that isn’t lost on the 11-year veteran.

Boyd on earning the start: “It's something you dream of. To get to do it at Wrigley, to get to do it for the Cubs organization, it's something I don't take lightly and it's an amazing honor. I'm extremely grateful.”
Boyd then got emotional when describing the significance of the opportunity:

“It's cool for so many different reasons. It's cool because you never know when the opportunity presents itself. I waited my first eight years to get the chance of a postseason. Didn't really get to be a part of it on the field. I only threw one out. You never know when the opportunity is going to come again.

“To do it with the Cubs, to do it with this group, it will never be like this again. I mean, we come back here, the personnel will not be the same. It's a special group. It's a good group of guys. And it's unique to this moment, and that's it.

“To think that I would have gotten this opportunity knowing everything about my grandfather growing up here, it's cool stuff. He would be extremely happy. … My grandfather grew up in Chicago. He grew up a Cubs fan. I think [November 2] 2016 was one of the happiest days of his life. I get to be a Cub now. It's pretty cool.”
Speaking of 2016: 2015 Cy Young award winner and 2016 World Series champion Jake Arrieta will throw out the ceremonial first pitch before today’s game.

Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder will be on hand to lead the seventh-inning stretch.

It’s a big day — and a chance to turn the page on an up-and-down regular season that still yielded 92 wins.

But more than anything, it’s just nice to have a playoff team back in Chicago.

MORE: Jared Wyllys on Boyd’s foundation, Kingdom Home, and their efforts to end human trafficking in Uganda.

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MEET THE PRESS: Ben Johnson met with the media via Zoom on Monday to wrap up Sunday’s big win in Las Vegas.

Johnson on his relationship with QB Caleb Williams: “It's been really consistent. We don't really waver either one of us. We meet every day and we go over the plan. We go over things that are on our minds. I think it's really critical for our relationship that we continue to have open and honest communication, and so we've been very good with that. On game day, I trust that he's put in the preparation, and I just let him go out there and play ball.”

MORE: Adam Jahns’ five takeaways from Sunday

STAFF CHANGES: The White Sox announced on Monday that they will not renew the contracts of pitching coach Ethan Katz, hitting coach Marcus Thames, first base/outfield coach Jason Bourgeois, catching coach Drew Butera and Triple-A manager Sergio Santos.

Grady Sizemore, who served as the club’s interim manager in 2024 and as the team’s “offensive coordinator” this year, will be offered another position within the organization.

MEDIA DAY DETOX: The Bulls hosted their annual Media Day at the Advocate Center on Monday.

Matas Buzelis said: “I want to win Most Improved Player this year. That’s what I’m striving for. … I know how hard I work. I know there’s going to be bumps and bruises on the road, but my mentality is always to be the best to help the team win. I always think of it like this, like, if somebody’s done it, I can do it too. And if nobody’s done it, I’ll be the first one to do it. So I’m very excited. I think we’re going to surprise a lot of people with this team, and I have a lot of faith in us.”

Bulls EVP Arturas Karnisovas said: “At the end of the day, our ultimate goal is obviously to win a championship, but we [are] in a position where we have to focus on our growth.”

MORE: Will Gottlieb on Buzelis’ lofty goals