The Cubs closed the regular season with a 6-2 win over Boston at Tropicana Field, then carried their most important unanswered question into Monday: who gets the ball first against San Diego?
Craig Counsell is keeping the rotation card close before the National League Wild Card Series at Petco Park, and the final weekend offered just enough movement to make the decision more complicated. Kevin Gausman made a promising step in his return from a left shoulder injury, while Shota Imanaga treated Sunday’s start more like a live bullpen tune-up than a conventional outing.
Rotation picture remains unsettled
-
Gausman injured his left shoulder while attempting a diving tag against Miami on Wednesday. On Sunday, the right-hander threw a bullpen session that produced encouraging results and data close to his usual levels.
-
His status for Tuesday night’s Game 1 is still not certain. Gausman said he must see how the shoulder responds into Monday before knowing whether he can pitch at full strength.
-
Imanaga started the regular-season finale against the Red Sox but lasted one inning, throwing 12 pitches and recording 10 strikes. He struck out three hitters and surrendered a solo home run.
-
That short outing appears to leave Imanaga in position to pitch as soon as Game 2 on Wednesday, with a potential Game 3 on Thursday also within reach.
-
The Cubs do not need to finalize their postseason roster until Tuesday, leaving Counsell and the club time to sort through both rotation and bullpen assignments.
Matthew Boyd and Gausman appear to be the leading candidates for the opener of the best-of-three series. Clay Holmes and David Peterson each started during Friday’s doubleheader at Fenway Park, making Game 2 their earliest likely starting opportunity.
Boyd said the group understands the postseason demand is not limited to a starter’s customary schedule.
“Whatever outs we’re asked to get, we’ll be prepared to get them,” Boyd said. “Whatever the situation or rest situation, this time of year comes down to what you can do today.”
Gausman willing to fit wherever needed
Gausman’s bullpen work gave him optimism, but he made clear that simply being available is not enough. If he cannot give the Cubs a real chance to win, he said, the responsible choice would be to step aside rather than force the issue.
“Today was a major move in the right direction,” Gausman said. “I’ll give everything I have, but if I can’t pitch the way I know I can or put the team in a position to win, I have to be smart and think about the club instead of myself.”
For Gausman, that is the posture of October. He has appeared in 14 postseason games with the Orioles, Braves, Giants and Blue Jays, making eight starts and six relief appearances. One of those bullpen outings came during Toronto’s run to the World Series last October.
He said the postseason requires every pitcher, including established relievers, to prepare for unfamiliar work.
“You have to adjust your mindset,” Gausman said. “You can plan for something, but you really don’t know what will happen. Everybody has to be ready. Guys may be asked to do jobs they haven’t done all season.”
Counsell is focused on all 27 outs
Counsell’s preference is to build a plan around the full game rather than attach too much importance to the title of Game 1 starter. That could mean starters who are not chosen for the first assignment become bullpen options against a San Diego lineup featuring dangerous right-handed bats.
“I’d trust any of these guys to start Game 1, Game 2 or any game,” Gausman said. “That’s a good problem to have.”
Counsell indicated before Sunday’s finale that the decisions would continue beyond the last out of the regular season and into the following day. The Cubs have won 162 games’ worth of answers. Now they have to decide how to use them in a series where every out arrives with October attached to it.
