The Chicago Cubs have announced that right-handed pitcher Kevin Gausman will start Game 2 against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday night. A week ago, the veteran pitcher injured his left shoulder at Wrigley Field when he made a great play to record an out at third base, but unfortunately, he landed awkwardly and banged up his non-throwing shoulder.
It wasn’t a guarantee that Gausman would be added to the Cubs’ playoff roster after his bullpen session on Sunday, but it still didn’t clear him of discomfort. Yet he made the 26-man roster and will gut it out for as long as he can. It turns out Gausman still doesn’t feel close to 100% as he prepares for tonight’s elimination game in San Diego.
Via the Chicago Tribune.
“We’re going to find out…It feels all right, good enough to go out there and give it everything I got. So that’s what I’m going to do.”
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“The weird thing is I’ve had shoulder injuries before, but it’s always been the right one, so this one’s been a little different,” Gausman said. “Trying to feel out the movements and what I’m maybe going to have to change a little bit out there to be able to do what I want to do. … It’s been a little crazy.”
So, you should expect the Cubs to have another starter ready to come in from the bullpen at any point if Gausman can’t go long, whether because of early struggles or shoulder issues. There’s a good chance that Craig Counsell turns to Clay Holmes or David Peterson at some point tonight regardless, as the Cubs face elimination against the Padres.
Teams that have lost Game 1 of a Wild Card Series since the format changed to a best-of-three series in 2022 are 1-15.
Kevin Gausman Awkward Injury
Right-handed pitcher Kevin Gausman made an incredible play, lunging toward Heriberto Hernández, who tried to reach third base after an infield single by Griffin Conine. Michael Busch fired to Gausman, who raced to third as the Cubs infield left the base uncovered.
Gausman recorded the out, but unfortunately banged up his left shoulder against the Miami Marlins less than a week before the playoffs.
After the game, Cubs manager Craig Counsell confirmed that something went wrong in Gausman’s left shoulder. For now, the team can only treat the discomfort and see how Gausman feels in a few days.
Gausman spoke to reporters and said that he had previously dislocated his left shoulder while he played high school baseball. This incident against the Marlins wasn’t the same type of injury, but the pitcher did say he “banged it pretty good.”
Via MLB.com.
“Felt fine until I stood up to check the other runner, and it kind of felt like the left shoulder was pretty weak at that point. It still feels pretty weak, but we’ll just kind of see how it feels tomorrow, get some treatment, and hopefully it’s just a couple-day thing.” -Kevin Gausman
The right-hander struck out seven batters in 5.2 innings. He walked one, allowed six hits, and gave up one costly mistake to Kyle Stowers, who hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning. Still, it was another solid start by Gausman, who has now allowed two or fewer runs in his last three starts at Wrigley Field.
