Kevin Gausman is happy he doesn't have to face the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday.
If Gausman stayed on turn, he would have faced his former team in his Chicago Cubs debut. However, his start has been moved to Friday against the Royals, and David Peterson will take the bump on Thursday against the Blue Jays (2:20 p.m. ET on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+).
Gausman said to reporters he "didn't necessarily ask" that his start get pushed past the Blue Jays, "but I was like, 'could we please not?'"
"I just know it would be a lot. 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 be a lot mentally," he continued. "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."
Gausman spent the past four and a half seasons in Toronto after signing a five-year $110-million deal ahead of the 2022 season that at the time was a record for a Blue Jays starter.
Gausman ranks in the top 10 in career Blue Jays starts, strikeouts, ERA, and WAR, and was a crucial part of Toronto’s rotation during its 2025 World Series run.
Due to the Blue Jays' struggles this campaign and Gausman's expiring deal, he was shipped to the Cubs in exchange for Brett Bateman and Ty Southisene over the weekend.
"I'll be honest, I thought they did really good for the future," said Gausman of the Blue Jays' trade deadline moves. "They got controllable starters, guys who have really good stuff. The pitching department over there is great. Pete (Walker) is going to do wonders for those guys.
"I thought they did a great job taking advantage of the market and, unfortunately, the situation that we put ourselves in. Listen, if a couple of us that got traded would've had good years, we're probably not getting traded."
Gausman's results have dipped in 2026 as he's pitched to a 4.38 ERA and 1.28 WHIP over 23 starts.
However, his 3.96 expected ERA and above-average strikeout and walk numbers indicate that he may have been unlucky at times, and the Cubs are hoping his post-season experience will come in handy as they push towards October.
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