The Cubs did not trade for Kevin Gausman because they needed another pitcher capable of surviving five innings. They wanted someone who could take the ball in October and make a playoff lineup miserable.
For the first time since arriving in Chicago, Gausman looked like that guy.
Gausman finally gives the Cubs what they paid for
Gausman carved through the Arizona Diamondbacks for seven scoreless innings Monday night. He surrendered three singles, walked one and struck out six in a 7-0 Cubs victory.
Only one Arizona runner reached scoring position against him. Even that required a walk and two stolen bases.
It was easily Gausman’s best start since Chicago acquired him at the trade deadline. Frankly, the Cubs needed to see it.
His first three starts were not disastrous, but they did not exactly inspire visions of a deep October run. Gausman looked more like a decent veteran addition than a pitcher who could change the top of a postseason rotation.
Monday was different.
Gausman threw 62 four-seam fastballs among his 94 pitches, his highest usage rate of the season. Arizona knew what was coming. It did not help. He recorded a career-high 24 called strikes with the pitch and picked up four of his six strikeouts with it.
That is more than a fun box score detail. A starter who can attack hitters without dancing around the strike zone gives Chicago something it has badly lacked.
He gives the Cubs a chance to breathe.
Chicago cannot slug its way through every problem
The Cubs have scored 26 unanswered runs over their last two games. They hammered Seattle 19-2 on Sunday, then followed it by comfortably handling Arizona.
Nobody is losing sleep over this lineup.
Chicago can score quickly, pile on late and turn a close game into a laugher before fans return from a trip to the refrigerator. The tougher question has always involved the other half of the equation.
Can the Cubs prevent postseason games from becoming bullpen roulette?
Gausman provided the best possible answer Monday. He worked seven innings, protected the bullpen and never allowed Arizona to drag Chicago into an uncomfortable game.
The Cubs have plenty of pitchers who can give them five decent innings. October asks for more than decent.
It asks for someone who can shut down a lineup when the offense is facing another team’s best starter. It asks for someone who can stop a losing streak before it gets ugly. It occasionally asks a manager to sit back and avoid pressing every bullpen button before the sixth inning.
That was the point of acquiring Gausman.
One dominant start does not erase everything that came before it. The 35-year-old still has to prove he can repeat this performance, and Chicago remains 5½ games behind Milwaukee in the National League Central.
Still, the Cubs did not need Monday to settle every question. They simply needed a reason to believe their deadline gamble could work.
Seven scoreless innings will do.
| More Cubs on DaWindyCity |
Add us as a preferred source on Google