It started in July 2018, after Matthew Boyd was knocked around by the Texas Rangers — the same team that had thumped him in the final start of his rookie year. The experience left a younger Boyd declaring, “I know I can pitch in this league,” over-and-over again.
Last July 5 — one week after the Detroit Tigers fired pitching coach Chris Bosio — Boyd allowed seven runs in four innings to the Rangers.
His up-and-down ways had returned. After a strong two months, he was struggling more often than not. The shape of his slider had changed, and opposing hitters weren’t missing it.