Did anyone really expect what Matthew Boyd has been able to offer the Cleveland Guardians so far? Okay, all the liars who threw up their hands when asked that question can put them back down now, but seriously, Boyd has exceeded most people’s expectations.

In his first two starts for the Guardians, Boyd allowed four runs on seven hits in 10.2 innings while allowing eight strikeouts and four walks. While Boyd’s first outing against the Chicago Cubs was better than his last against the New York Yankees (one run allowed on three hits and six strikeouts vs. three runs allowed on four hits with two strikeouts and four walks), it was still a productive outing. The Yankees are a very talented team, and holding them to three runs, two of which came on solo home runs, is no small feat. Not to mention, some drop-off in performance from the Cubs to the Yankees was to be expected. Still, it’s not a bad first 10+ innings for a player making his first major league appearance in over a year.

If Boyd can continue to throw at or near the level he showed in his first two starts, that would be a huge step forward for the Guardians. Cleveland has dealt with so many moving parts in its starting lineup this season that adding some level of stability to this group will pay off. Regular, relatively average throwing would make all the difference for Cleveland’s rotation and should help this group hold out until October.

While Boyd’s career numbers suggest his future performance will continue to decline, the hurdle he must clear to remain in Cleveland’s rotation isn’t particularly high right now. Due to injuries and poor performances from other players on the roster, this is one area where the minimum requirement of being able to throw a ball qualifies someone to start a game for the Guardians this season. But if Boyd is able to avoid a major regression, the Guardians’ front office will be somewhat forgiven for their relative inactivity at the trade deadline.