No starting pitcher finished 2020 with a higher ERA than Matthew Boyd’s 6.71. Today he shut down an offense that, supposedly, has eyes on the 2021 postseason.
Cleveland managed just three hits off of Boyd, whose fastball didn’t exceed 92 mph all day. The 30-year-old kept Cleveland’s off-balance with 27 sliders and 16 changeups, mostly down in the zone. Even when he missed it didn’t hurt him much — Cleveland’s offense drew four walks against him but stranded every one of them on base.
César Hernández showed some promise early with a double blistered at 107.7 mph, but the only other two balls hit over the century mark off Boyd were outs.