Tigers Matt Boyd Quiet Emergence: Waiver Wire Worthy?
By Brad Kelly
Matt Boyd has quietly strung together three solid consecutive starts for the Tigers. Now that he seems to have turned things around, could he be a waiver wire option moving forward?
The Detroit Tigers have had to battle through a myriad of injuries this season, yet still are in the thick of things in the AL Wildcard race. Michael Fulmer has deservedly gotten most of the national attention this season, as he should go on to win Rookie of the Year honors, but the team has needed other options to step up in the rotation. This is where, Matt Boyd steps in.
Matt Boyd was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 6th round out of Oregon State University in 2013. Boyd was acquired by the Tigers in the David Price deal, and the organization was banking on he and Daniel Norris, to eventually become rotation fixtures. He made 10 starts with Detroit last season, and was downright terrible, posting a 6.57 ERA.
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However, he dominated AAA last season, and his unsightly ERA is not a true indicator of his talent. While minor league numbers are sometimes misleading, Boyd posted a 1.65 ERA over 114 innings in the minors in 2015, while striking out 147. He had a 9.9 SO/9 and only averaged two walks a game as well.
Boyd’s biggest issue during his stint in the majors with the Tigers, was that he surrendered 12 homers in only 50 innings. While he does not have the most overpowering arsenal, that type of homer rate was shocking to see, since he had never surrendered more than nine in one season in the minors. But,in an effort to reduce that rate, Boyd’s offseason program heading into 2016, saw him add three mph to his fastball and the further development of his nasty slider.
Matt Boyd did have his fair of struggles early in the 2016 season, especially in June, which would eventually cause him to be demoted. He would be recalled in early July, and since he has made his way back, he has proven to be a steady force in the Tigers’ rotation. Over his last eight starts, he has posted a sub 2.50 ERA over 45 innings.
Over those 45 innings, he has lowered his WHIP significantly, coming in at just a little over 1.00. In the month of August, he holds a 7.2 SO/9, and he happens to be in the middle of the best three start stretch he has had in MLB career. Against the Rangers, Red Sox, and Twins, he only surrendered a total of four earned runs, an impressive feat considering the offenses that those teams roll out there.
The home run bug still bites him, he has given up five homers in five starts so far this month. But, thanks to him limiting the Hits and Walks against him this month, he has avoided those big run innings. In terms of his fantasy value, Boyd is on fire right now, and it seems as though everything is clicking.
His next two starts come against the White Sox and the Royals, so his next two matchups are pretty favorable. His K upside is not huge, but there is nothing wrong with 5+ K a game from a waiver wire add. His stuff looks sharp and he sis keeping the ball down right now, so owners should be confident in adding him off the wire?