Pitcher Matthew Boyd bounced around from Toronto to Detroit to San Francisco to Seattle back to Detroit to Cleveland since 2015. Catcher Carson Kelly bounced around from St. Louis to Detroit to Texas since 2016. Both signed two-year contracts with the Chicago Cubs within a week of each other in Dece mber, and the reaction among fans was tepid. But the early returns on this battery have been astounding. Boyd and Kelly were among the stars of Saturday’s 7-1 Cubs win over the San Diego Padres in front of 35,391 fans at Wrigley Field. Boyd fired six shutout innings, allowing five hits and striking out five. Through two starts, the left-hander has thrown 11 shutout innings for the Cubs (7-4), who won their fifth straight. He became emotional after Saturday’s game thinking of his grandfather John, who grew up as a Cubs fan in Chicago. “It’s cool, it’s really cool,” Boyd said of his first Cubs start at Wrigley. “I know what it meant to him, and I know what it means to my dad (Kurt) just to put on this uniform. “My grandfather was a die-hard Cubs fan who passed in 2019. He just loved the Cubbies. The World Series was probably one of his lifetime highlights.” Boyd and his grandfather would talk on the phone after his starts, and the conversation always took a U-turn to the North Side. “As I was telling him about my start, he would always tell me know how the Cubs did,” Boyd said. “He always wanted to get to the important stuff. “To be a part of this is very cool, and I have a ton of gratitude.” Cubs starter Matthew Boyd delivers during the second inning against the Padres on April 5, 2025, at Wrigley Field. (Erin Hooley/AP) Aside from the sentimentality of playing for the Cubs, Boyd is also grateful just to be playing after Tommy John surgery wiped out chunks of his 2023 and 2024 seasons and left his future in doubt. But he had a sparkling postseason last year for the Guardians with an 0.77 ERA in three starts and 14 strikeouts in 11 2-3 innings. He carried that hot streak to his new team. “You never know what the future holds,” Boyd said. “You always believe you can do it. It puts things in perspective and every time I walk onto the field, I try to take a moment and soak it in because you are a big-league baseball player. “And now I’m pitching for the Chicago Cubs and I’m at Wrigley Field.” Kelly was 2-for-3 with a three-run home run and four RBIs and Dansby Swanson added a solo shot. Kelly is hitting .467 in five games and already made history on Monday against the Athletics when he became the first Cub to hit for the cycle since Mark Grace in 1993. He walked twice in that game and joined Mickey Cochrane (1933) and Joe Gordon (1940) as the only major-league players since 1901 to hit for the cycle and walk twice in a game. Cubs catcher Carson Kelly watches his a three-run home run during the sixth inning against the Padres on April 5, 2025, at Wrigley Field. (Justin Casterline/Getty Images) There was no cycle Saturday, but he increased his RBI total to 10, the most by a Cubs player in his first five games with the team. “Carson was awesome all-around,” Boyd said. “He called a great game and his first start at Wrigley as a Cubbie and he went deep.” Kelly was low key about his hot start, pointing out that it’s a long season. But he did enjoy his home run to left-center in the sixth, extending the Cubs’ lead to 7-0. “When I was with the Cardinals, I almost had my first homer here,” Kelly said. “It hit right below the basket and this one hit pretty much near the same spot. “It was pretty cool to put one out today.” Ian Happ embodies consistency in reaching 1,000-game milestone with the Chicago Cubs: ‘I’m so proud’ Ian Happ played in his 1,000th game in a Cubs uniform. As he stepped to the plate for his first at-bat in the first inning, he received a standing ovation from the crowd and promptly hit a double. He also made a diving catch in left field. Manager Craig Counsell said it’s an impressive milestone. “It’s definitely rare and worth talking about,” he said. “In this era of baseball, it is not happening. It’s just not happening. Ian has made it this far and he has a ways to go too.” Cubs left fielder Ian Happ signals to the dugout after hitting a double in the first inning against the Padres on April 5, 2025, at Wrigley Field. (Erin Hooley/AP) Happ has had some proud moments as a Cubs player, but being able to stay durable is what he prides himself on. “I think I’m most proud of the games that I played since 2022,” he said. “I had 158 and 158 in back-to-back years and even with the hamstring (injury) last spring, I played 150-plus. “What means a lot to me is being available for this group.” Related Articles Ian Happ embodies consistency in reaching 1,000-game milestone with the Chicago Cubs: ‘I’m so proud’ 3 takeaways from the Chicago Cubs’ 3-1 win in their home opener, including Shota Imanaga’s ‘alarming’ day Column: Jed Hoyer’s future — in his walk year — could be tied to Kyle Tucker’s season for Chicago Cubs Photos: Chicago Cubs win home opener 3-1 at Wrigley Field Column: A new chapter begins at Wrigley Field as the Chicago Cubs finally return home Swanson admires Happ’s accomplishment. “I always said that the best ability is availability,” he said. Happ began his career in 2017 and could not have predicted that he would still be with the team in 2025. “When you start playing, you never have a doubt that you are going to be an everyday player,” Happ said. “But probably not with the same team.” The Cubs debuted new uniforms in the game that included a “Blues Alternate” jersey paying tribute to the team’s history and the city’s contribution to the electric blues movement. The Cubs also were the first modern team to wear baby blue uniforms in 1941 and 1942. Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Chicago Tribune. ...read more read less