<p>NEW YORK — The <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/cubs" target="_blank" >Cubs</a> haven’t announced a probable starting pitcher for their game Thursday against the Mets.</p><p>Do the math, however, and you can pick out a strong candidate to take the hill.</p><p>Opening Day starter <b>Matthew Boyd </b>will make his return from the injured list soon, with manager <b>Craig Counsell </b>saying his next outing will come with the big-league team after he made a minor-league rehab start Saturday.</p><p>A start Thursday would put Boyd on regular rest after that outing, seemingly making him a good pick to fill that spot.</p><p>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.</p><p>He was supposed to return two weekends ago, only for unexpected shoulder soreness to force the Cubs to slow down his comeback.</p><p>But the rehab start Saturday and a successful bullpen session Monday have folks optimistic he’ll be back in short order.</p><p>It’s what happens from there that can get the Cubs thinking about what the rest of Boyd’s season looks like.</p><p>“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.