NEW YORK — The Cubs haven’t announced a probable starting pitcher for their game Thursday against the Mets.
Do the math, however, and you can pick out a strong candidate to take the hill.
Opening Day starter Matthew Boyd will make his return from the injured list soon, with manager Craig Counsell saying his next outing will come with the big-league team after he made a minor-league rehab start Saturday.
A start Thursday would put Boyd on regular rest after that outing, seemingly making him a good pick to fill that spot.
Boyd, an All Star last season, hasn’t pitched in a big-league game since May 3. A pair of stays on the IL — the second much longer than the first, as Boyd recovered from knee surgery — has limited him to only five starts this season.
He was supposed to return two weekends ago, only for unexpected shoulder soreness to force the Cubs to slow down his comeback.
But the rehab start Saturday and a successful bullpen session Monday have folks optimistic he’ll be back in short order.
It’s what happens from there that can get the Cubs thinking about what the rest of Boyd’s season looks like.
“After [the previous rehab start], recovering the right way was important, and that’s happened; that’s the most important thing,’’ Counsell said. ‘‘We’ve got to get Matt out there consistently. That’s when we’re going to get the truth with what’s going on.
‘‘He’s had a number of ailments. We’ve got to get him out there regularly, on a schedule. That’s what we haven’t been able to do, and that’s what he hasn’t been able to do.
‘‘In my eyes, until we get two [or] three times through with him, that’s when we get back into the routine of the season.’’
Suzuki still at DH
Before the game Monday against the Mets was rained out, outfielder Seiya Suzuki remained as the Cubs’ designated hitter, where he had played since being removed from a game two weekends ago with discomfort in his right knee.
The Cubs had expressed hope that Suzuki would be back in right field by now, but Counsell said the recovery has taken longer than anticipated.
‘‘Matt [Shaw] was going to play [Monday], so I just thought, ‘Let’s give Seiya another day at DH,’ ’’ Counsell said before the game was washed away. ‘‘We’ll see tomorrow. It’s been a little slower than I would have liked.
‘‘Obviously, he’s been in there every day, so he’s feeling good enough to do that. But he’s been a little slower being confident running around and sliding in the outfield than initially expected.’’
In the five games Suzuki has played DH, Shaw has manned right field — with positive offensive results. He was 6-for-21 with a home run, two triples, seven RBI and six runs scored on the recent homestand.
PCA is Player of the Week
Once again, the red-hot bat of Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong earned him national recognition.
Crow-Armstrong was named the National League Player of the Week, the second time that has happened in the last three weeks.
During the seven-day stretch, he went 11-for-20 with four homers, a triple, a double, seven RBI, five runs scored, four walks and a couple of stolen bases.
Those weekly honors very well might add up to a monthly one soon. Crow-Armstrong has a ridiculous .437/.481/.930 slash line in June and has at least one hit in all but one of the 17 games in which he has played this month.