Detroit Tigers’ starting pitcher Matthew Boyd is on record as saying if God called him to move to Uganda, he would do it. At the moment, Africa doesn’t seem a likely landing point for Boyd, but Philadelphia might be.
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Boyd surrendered only two runs and two walks along with five hits while recording eight strikeouts during his six innings of work in Tuesday’s 15-inning loss to the Phillies. Though he didn’t factor in the game’s decision, he may very well be a factor in the Phillies’ postseason dreams. With the July 31 trade deadline looming, the Phillies are in need of both starting and relief pitching as they make a run at securing a wild card playoff spot. The Tigers, meanwhile, are arguably the worst team in baseball (30-67), actively rebuilding, and possibly looking to trade some of what they have now for the future.
The Tigers will be looking for a sizable score for Boyd, who has three years left on his contract following this season. Boyd’s 4.07 ERA hides how great his other stats are: He is striking out 12.0 batters per nine innings (fifth in MLB), has recorded a career-high 168 strikeouts already this season (sixth in MLB), is walking just 1.9 batters per nine innings, and is unafraid to aggressively challenge hitters, a trait even more valuable in the less offensively-minded National League.
Whatever happens, though, Boyd has learned over his career to trust God. His favorite verse, Proverbs 3:5-6, is a classic on the topic, calling believers to trust in God’s wisdom over their own.
“This is something that my wife’s always reminded me of,” Boyd told us at The Increase. “It’s a truth that was hugely influential for me during my junior year at college. This is the battle, not just for that day, but for every day. When the questions arise, ‘Am I going to make the squad next season? How do we raise our child? How do we grow in our marriage? What do we do with our finances? Home? Occupation?’ In all these things we need to trust in God and not in our own understanding. When we submit to Him, He will guide us as He sees fit. When we do, He will fill us up in ways that we never could have imagined.”
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