Chicago Cubs: The latest on Kevin Gausman and the Wild Card rotation

The Chicago Cubs were aggressive at the trade deadline this year, making moves to address starting rotation issues in anticipation of a playoff run. They added veteran starters Kevin Gausman and Clay Holmes—along with Braxton Garrett and reliever Ryan Zeferjahn—to beef up a postseason-bound team.

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The trade for Gausman, specifically, was said to be done with the playoffs in mind. The veteran right-hander, who came over from the Toronto Blue Jays for two mid-level minor league prospects, has the reputation of being a bulldog in postseason play, posting a 2.93 ERA through 30.2 playoff and World Series innings last year.

Pretty much as soon as the Cubs got Gausman, there was speculation that he’d be their Game One starter for the first playoff series. The scheduling of his starts was even consistent with a probable start in the opening game of the Wild Card series.

Those thoughts kind of came apart last Wednesday, in his last start, when he injured his non-throwing shoulder in a diving tag attempt at third base.

Will Gausman be ready?

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Now, the question is not where Gausman will pitch in the upcoming series, but if he’ll pitch at all.

“I don’t know,” Gausman said Sunday, when asked about his readiness for the Wild Card series against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. “That’s a tough [question to answer].”

“I’m going to go out and give everything I’ve got,” Gausman added. “But if I feel like I can’t give this team a chance to win, or pitch the way I know I can, then I need to be smart and think about these guys and not myself.

“The goal is to get to the World Series, in any shape or form. I’m ready for whatever.”

The 14-year major-leaguer pitched a bullpen session on Sunday and any decision on the upcoming Padres three-game series will depend on how he feels Monday. Although the injury is in his non-throwing shoulder, the fear is that his pitch mechanics will be off if he comes back not at 100%.

The Cubs’ Wild Card rotation

In the meantime, the Cubs will have a lot of questions when it comes to who to start in the first playoff round—precisely the same problem they chose to address at the trade deadline.

Lefty Matthew Boyd, right now, seems the likely choice for Game One starter. Clay Holmes—who started his Cubs run in dominant fashion, but has since struggled—would be a good bet to start Game Two. Then, Shota Imanaga, who pitched just one inning in Sunday’s last game of the season, looks to be lined up as the Game Three starter, if necessary.

Beyond that, David Peterson, Colin Rea, Javier Assad, and Aaron Civale are all multiple-inning relief options who could also start if necessary.

Then, of course, there’s Gausman, who wants to pitch, but who will also defer to a fresher, healthier pitcher if need be.

“The good thing is,” Gausman told reporters on Sunday, “I feel confident with any one of these guys starting Game 1 or Game 2, or any game. It’s a good problem to have.”

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