Brewers’ Counsell Defends Short-Rest Start After Boyd’s Struggles

Game 1 of the NLDS between the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers turned into a nightmare for Chicago fans. The Cubs squandered an early lead and fell 9-3, undone by a brutal first inning.

Starter Matthew Boyd worked on just three days’ rest, and his night unraveled fast. Shaky command and costly defensive mistakes piled up almost immediately.

The Brewers pounced on every opportunity. They set the tone for the series and put real pressure on the Cubs heading into Game 2.

A Promising Start Quickly Turns Sour

The Cubs jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Hopes soared for a strong postseason opener.

But those hopes evaporated almost instantly. Boyd faced just eight batters, allowing six runs—only two earned—before Craig Counsell yanked him for the bullpen.

A pivotal error by second baseman Nico Hoerner extended the inning. That mistake cracked the door wide open for Milwaukee’s relentless offense.

Boyd’s Short Rest Gamble Backfires

Starting Boyd on three days’ rest was a calculated gamble by Counsell. He pointed to Boyd’s strong regular season and limited wild-card innings and figured the lefty could handle it.

History didn’t back him up—over the past 30 years, pitchers working on short rest in the postseason have combined for a 4.50 ERA. Boyd’s line certainly didn’t help that stat.

Command Issues and Aggressive Brewers Bats

From the start, Boyd’s command just wasn’t there. He threw strikes on only 43% of his pitches, his lowest rate of the year.

The Brewers noticed his struggles right away and went into attack mode. They swung early in counts, refusing to let Boyd settle in.

Milwaukee skipper Pat Murphy praised his lineup’s discipline and intent. He said they came in with a plan to pressure a tired pitcher right out of the gate.

Key Hit by Blake Perkins

Blake Perkins, Milwaukee’s center fielder, delivered the exclamation point in that wild first inning. His sharp single plated the sixth run.

Perkins admitted he was surprised at how fast the offense got going. Still, he said the team’s preparation gave them confidence to seize early chances.

Bullpen Heroics Keep Cubs Afloat

With Boyd lasting less than an inning, the Cubs’ bullpen faced a mountain to climb. Former Brewer Aaron Civale stepped up and ate 4⅓ innings, sparing the rest of the relievers and keeping them fresh for Game 2.

His effort stood out as a rare bright spot in an otherwise frustrating night for the North Siders.

Looking Ahead to Game 2

The Cubs face serious pressure heading into Game 2. Another loss would put them right on the brink in this best-of-five series.

The bullpen, thanks to Civale, is in decent shape. Counsell will probably go with a well-rested starter for the next contest.

Keys to a Cubs Bounce-Back

To even the series, the Cubs need to fix a few things:

• Solid defense: They have to avoid mistakes that let innings get out of hand.
• Pitching command: Cubs pitchers must get ahead in counts and stop giving away free passes.
• Timely hitting: They need to take advantage of early scoring chances and put some heat on the Brewers.

Milwaukee looks ready to keep rolling, honestly. Their lineup’s hot, and you can see their confidence growing with every at-bat.

The Cubs can’t afford a repeat of Game 1’s rocky start if they want to stay alive. Monday night’s matchup feels huge—maybe it decides the whole NLDS.

For Chicago, it’s already do-or-die. Veteran teams know that feeling. Can they shake off Boyd’s tough outing and Hoerner’s error? Guess we’ll find out, but one thing’s clear: Game 2 is a must-win now.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Counsell stands by call as Boyd flops on short rest