Chicago Cubs to see Kevin Gausman debut on Friday

By Liam Tremblay — 6 August 2026 — 4 min read

Kevin Gausman, a right-handed pitcher, is anticipated to make his debut for the Chicago Cubs on Friday night in Kansas City. This follows his trade from Toronto on Sunday, a move that has been years in the making, according to Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer.

Gausman expressed his satisfaction with the move, noting a long-standing connection to the Cubs throughout his career. His wife also remarked that it was “about time” he joined the team, referencing past links to Chicago during his time in Baltimore.

Gausman’s career and recent performance

The 35-year-old Gausman brings a considerable track record to Chicago. He has pitched at least 174 2/3 innings and made a minimum of 31 starts in each of the previous five years. In his recent outing with Toronto, he delivered 5 2/3 innings of one-run baseball in a 5-1 victory over St. Louis on Saturday.

This season, Gausman holds a 5-10 record with a 4.38 ERA over 23 starts. Notably, he previously faced the Cubs on June 19, where he allowed seven runs on seven hits in two innings during a 16-2 loss. Despite this, he played a significant role in Toronto reaching the 2025 World Series, posting a 2-3 record with a 2.93 ERA across six postseason starts. The Blue Jays ultimately lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Fall Classic, a team that could potentially be a playoff opponent for the Cubs this year.

Gausman mentioned that once a player reaches the World Series, the primary goal becomes returning. He expressed excitement about the prospect of achieving that with his new team. He was officially added to Chicago’s active roster before the team completed a three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers with a 7-6 win on Wednesday. Concurrently, left-hander Antoine Kelly was optioned to Triple-A Iowa.

Impact on the Cubs’ pitching staff

Gausman joins a revamped rotation that also includes Clay Holmes. The Cubs further strengthened their pitching staff by acquiring reliever Ryan Zeferjahn and left-hander Braxton Garrett in two other deals made before Monday’s trade deadline. Gausman views these acquisitions as a sign that the team is committed to competing, describing it as an “adrenaline shot” that can energize the team.

The recent additions present some intriguing decisions for manager Craig Counsell regarding the pitching staff. The Cubs also have right-hander Edward Cabrera and relievers Daniel Palencia and Hoby Milner on rehab assignments with Triple-A Iowa. Colin Rea has moved back to the bullpen after the Cubs decided to skip his next turn in the rotation, indicating that further adjustments to the pitching roles are likely.

Counsell acknowledged that players might be asked to take on roles they are less accustomed to, and that careful management will be necessary. He also noted the increased competition within the starting rotation.

Trade details and prospect movement

The trade that brought Gausman to Chicago involved the Blue Jays receiving two minor league players: infielder Ty Southisene and outfielder Brett Bateman. Gausman spent four-plus seasons with Toronto, signing a five-year deal before the 2022 campaign. During his tenure, he recorded a 53-51 record and contributed to the Blue Jays’ playoff appearances in 2022, 2023, and 2025.

Ty Southisene, 21 years old, was a fourth-round pick for the Cubs in the 2024 MLB Draft. He is hitting .306 this season across Single-A and High-A, with 44 games played at the latter level. He boasts a .451 on-base percentage and 20 stolen bases, with only 27 strikeouts in 66 total games. However, he has not hit a professional home run in 157 minor league games. He is currently ranked as the No. 17 prospect in the Blue Jays’ system, a drop from his No. 13 ranking with the Cubs, according to MLB Pipeline.

Brett Bateman, selected in the eighth round of the 2023 draft, is another contact-oriented player. He is hitting .312 with a .430 on-base percentage at Triple-A and has 20 stolen bases in 82 games, though he has only three home runs this season. Bateman is ranked No. 20 in the Blue Jays’ system and could potentially reach the majors as early as next season.

Gausman’s personal history reveals a long-standing appreciation for baseball. Born and raised in the Denver area, he was more a fan of individual players like Carlos González, Troy Tulowitzki, Todd Helton, and Ubaldo Jiménez rather than specific teams during his youth. He also admired players like Randy Johnson, Josh Beckett, and Josh Johnson, whose posters adorned his bedroom walls. Gausman, who has a 117-123 won-lost record and a 3.85 ERA over 2,038 1/3 career innings, signed a five-year, $110 million contract with the Blue Jays prior to the 2022 season.

The Cubs completed a three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers with a 7-6 victory on Wednesday.

Source: sportsnet.ca