The Chicago Cubs have been dealt another tough blow to their pitching staff, as left-hander Matthew Boyd underwent surgery Thursday to repair a partial meniscus tear in his left knee. The injury occurred during what should have been a simple, joyful moment—playing with his children.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell confirmed the timeline for Boyd's recovery, estimating a six-week absence. "It's kind of the minor meniscus surgery so we know he's going to miss a month, six weeks," Counsell explained before the Cubs' game against the Cincinnati Reds. "Probably closer to six weeks with getting it ramped back up. That's what we're hopeful for. Obviously, we'll see how it all goes and I think the important thing is how much time do we miss throwing. That's probably the biggest thing right here. The knee is going to recover pretty quickly, but how much throwing down time do we have to take?"

Boyd, 35, who posted a 2-1 record with a 6.00 ERA before the injury, now joins a growing list of Cubs starters on the injured list. Cade Horton (elbow) is out for the season, while Justin Steele (elbow) isn't expected back until the second half. Jordan Wicks is also sidelined, leaving the Cubs' rotation in a precarious position.

With Boyd's Friday start against the Texas Rangers now vacant, Counsell is weighing his options. Javier Assad and Ben Brown are both potential candidates to step into the rotation. "We're just trying to think about the innings puzzle moving forward here," Counsell said. "And then you're also just trying to consider what's next. You have to play that game, unfortunately. You always have to play that game: What do we do if something else happens? We just have to make sure we're covered there. ... I don't think we have anybody completely stretched out as a starter right now. So that's what I'm talking about, the puzzle. We're just going to have to put that together."

To bolster the bullpen, the Cubs recalled reliever Trent Thornton from Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday and made another swap Thursday, bringing up Gavin Hollowell and designating Corbin Martin for assignment. Martin allowed three runs in his recent appearance. As the Cubs navigate this injury crisis, every move—and every inning—will be critical in keeping their season on track.