Boyd, who improved to 6-3 and lowered his ERA to 2.79 with a great performance Saturday, caught Pirates outfielder Tommy Pham off first base for his major-league-leading sixth pickoff, erasing a walk that stood as the only baserunner he allowed after a home run in the first inning.

The Chicago Cubs are on top of the NL Central with a depleted rotation. The quiet consistency of Matthew Boyd is a major reason for their success.

Matthew Boyd pitched six innings of one-hit, one-run ball and Dansby Swanson hit a tiebreaking home run in the Chicago Cubs’ 2-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday.