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Left hander Matt Boyd was the Buffalo Bisons' scheduled starter for a 1 pm Thursday matinee against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, but was replaced last minute by Chad Jenkins. The move was first reported by Sportsnet's Jeff Blair and made official per a Buffalo Bisons press release.
Chad Jenkins starting for Matt Boyd today at AAA.
— Jeff Blair (@SNJeffBlair) June 25, 2015
The move makes it very likely that Boyd, 24, will be called up to make a start for the Blue Jays this weekend against the Rangers.
Boyd was the Blue Jays' sixth round pick in the 2013 draft from Oregon State University and has been a starter throughout his time in the minor leagues. This season, he recorded an impressive 1.10 ERA and 0.774 WHIP in double-A New Hampshire, which earned him a promotion to triple-A Buffalo for two starts. At both levels, he averaged a strikeout every four batters faced. He does tend to give up fly balls--according to Ezra Jones at Minor League Ball, some 40% of batted balls end up in the air.
There was some discussion about whether Boyd or Felix Doubront would be the best option for the start for Saturday's game, with Doubront being a known commodity as a below-average-but-probably-acceptable starting pitcher and Boyd being an unknown factor. Both would have needed to be added to the 40-man roster (the Blue Jays gained an open spot when Phil Coke declined his optional assignment) but Doubront has no more options remaining while Boyd can be sent back down to the minors without having to go through waivers.
UPDATE
Some words from John Lott, who I presume is in Buffalo:
In Buffalo, mgr Gary Allenson says #BlueJays said to scratch Matt Boyd from start today and "back him off two days." Jays need Sat. starter.
— John Lott (@LottOnBaseball) June 25, 2015
LT: Autocorrect didn’t like Allenson, made it Allison. *Allenson* said he doesn’t know if #BlueJays are promoting Boyd.
— John Lott (@LottOnBaseball) June 25, 2015
Riiiiight... of course you don't.