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Kevin Gausman was ‘relieved’ he didn’t have to face former team
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One of the Chicago Cubs’ biggest moves at the MLB Trade Deadline was acquiring starting pitcher Kevin Gausman from the Toronto Blue Jays. With some help needed in the starting rotation, Jed Hoyer went out and made some big additions.
The hope is that Gausman can help boost the rotation and make a push for the playoffs. With the addition of Gausman, it could set up Craig Counsell’s rotation for the long run.
As the Cubs are riding high following a sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers and then winning a makeup game against Toronto on Thursday, they get set for a big weekend series in Kansas City. Gausman will make his debut on Friday night, hoping to get a series opening win for Chicago. Before that, he spoke to the media ahead of Thursday’s win over the Blue Jays. It was there that revealed he didn’t want to face his former team.
Why Kevin Gausman didn’t want to face former team
With that make up game on Thursday, there was a chance Gausman could debut against the Blue Jays. But he preferred not to and explained why. While Gausman didn’t necessarily ask to not pitch against Toronto, he preferred his first start to be over the weekend instead:
“I just know it would be a lot,” Gausman said about the possibility of pitching against Toronto in his first Cubs start, according to Sportsnet. “I just want to focus on trying to win a game and pitching against them, I think I could do it, I know those hitters pretty well over there, their strengths, their weaknesses. But I think it would a lot mentally. For them, too.
“Really close with all those guys. Wish them nothing but the best. Looking forward to watching us play them today and seeing those guys again, but definitely glad I’m not facing them.”
The 35-year-old Gausman is 5-10 with a 4.38 ERA and 127 strikeouts in 23 starts this season. He’s in the final year of a five-year contract he signed with the Blue Jays and will help to lead the Cubs into a deep postseason run.
He could make a good first impression on Friday.
The post Kevin Gausman was ‘relieved’ he didn’t have to face former team appeared first on ChiCitySports.
