TORONTO – Game 1 of the American League Division Series against the New York Yankees was on the verge of unravelling on the Toronto Blue Jays in the sixth inning. Kevin Gausman had cruised through five and led 2-0 when an Anthony Volpe double, Austin Wells single and Trent Grisham loaded the bases for Aaron Judge.
Unfazed, Gausman rallied to strike out the AL MVP for the first out and as gutsy as that was, what came next required even more mettle. Rather than giving in, he issued a four-pitch walk to Cody Bellinger that brought home a run, but ultimately helped the Blue Jays escape the inning with the lead, as Ben Rice popped out before Louis Varland came on to blow away Giancarlo Stanton. They broke the game open in the seventh and eventually won 10-1.
“He was well aware of everything he was doing that entire inning and knowing that he could manoeuvre the way he did and knowing that I had a dude throwing a 101 for Stanton after his pitch count was up pretty high,” manager John Schneider marvelled. “Kev's a great pitcher, but he also can navigate those spots when he's at his best. That's part of what makes him great.”
On a day to celebrate the 35-year-old’s many accomplishments since signing a $110-million, five-year deal with the Blue Jays that expires this fall, that inning in that outing is one of many highlights from a remarkable run that was top of mind. To log 861 regular-season innings, and counting, over the last 4½ years, third most in the majors over that span, to start on Opening Day and in post-season series, to consistently be the type of pitcher the team trusts in its biggest moments, requires the steeliness, determination and competitiveness Gausman showed in that fateful frame versus the Yankees.
Each of those qualities, along with his endearing embrace of the community, were part of the standard he set during his time with Toronto, which appears likely to end before the trade deadline passes at 6 p.m. ET Monday. And that’s why a crowd of 41,819 stood and cheered as he walked off the field after 5.2 innings of one-run ball in a 5-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals, and why he tapped his heart back before descending to the dugout on Saturday.
Try as he did to keep things as normal as he could, “it was tough to not think about what could be,” he said, quickly adding that “I hope it's not.” A respite came as he worked around nine hits and a walk while striking out four, but the fans cheering as he exited “made me realize (the possibilities) again.”
“What a cool moment. The fans have done a lot of cool moments for me since I've been here, but that was definitely up there,” Gausman continued, adding that he felt “appreciation for receiving that kind of love. I've played this game long enough to know those things don't happen all the time. Tried to soak it in and, had to go down in the tunnel after to kind of regroup myself. But what a cool moment, for sure.”
If that was indeed his last start for the Blue Jays — he said he’s “had some discussions” with the front office “and I honestly really appreciate the discussion that we had,” without elaborating — then it’s the end of an era. He made 148 regular-season starts and pitched in eight more post-season games during three playoff appearances, a cornerstone for the franchise both in terms of performance and what it wants to stand for.
“He's been everything, right?” said George Springer, himself a potential candidate, but one with a full no-trade as a 10-and-5 player. “He’s been consistent, he wants the ball in a big game, he wants the ball in a big spot. But I think the thing that I'll take from him is how much he cares about us and who he is as an individual, not just a baseball player."
The outpouring of support for him began the second he emerged from the dugout to warmup in the bullpen and didn’t ebb until his day was done. What’s next will be determined by the deadline’s machinations — scouts from at least five clubs were on hand and the starter market began to move on a lower tier Friday night when the Twins acquired Dean Kremer from Baltimore — but he’s been bracing for the possible change.
How Gausman gets valued by rival clubs in what’s been an up-and-down season is uncertain. The market includes some longer-term options like Jose Soriano, whom the Los Angeles Angels scratched from his scheduled start due to a “prudent approach” ahead of the deadline, and George Kirby, whom the Seattle Mariners have engaged with multiple teams about according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, while Tarik Skubal sits as the definitive top option in the rental market.
Under no pressure to move money, the Blue Jays are seeking a certain talent threshold to sell-off their expiring assets, are looking to make non-rental acquisitions if available and their players hope the current three-game win streak, pushing them to 52-59, impacts some of the calculus. They can match their season-long win streak of four games by completing a sweep Sunday, when Max Scherzer starts.
“We're still in it,” said Daulton Varsho, another potential trade candidate. “I mean we're 4.5 games out (of the third wild-card spot heading into Saturday's play), it's not like we're 10.5 games back. We've got to keep our heads down, keep grinding, keep playing good baseball and see where the year ends up. …
“I still think we're a really good team. Like on paper, we're still a really good team, we've just got to prove it every night.”
Whatever happens, Gausman keeps proving his worth each time he takes the mound, and his dependability won’t be easily replaced or replicated. Nor will the wider impact of his leadership in the clubhouse and presence in the community.
Asked what he hopes fans appreciate about him, Gausman noted that people “gravitate towards certain guys for whatever reason,” before adding, “I think I've been pretty consistent since I've been here, so that's obviously helped. And that's why I think of myself as a Blue Jay … I feel like the most consistent of any team that I've been on, it's been here. I hope they realize that I've embraced not just the team, but the country and I really love this city and everything it stands for. But outside of that, also the organization and what they've entrusted (me with). They've put a lot of trust in me and I feel the same way as them. So, a lot of love. This has been the best decision I've ever made, to come here.”
Schneider said the Blue Jays didn’t have “one conversation” about not starting him Saturday and he underlined the push and pull of the deadline when he added that, “we don't want him to go anywhere and I know he doesn't want to go anywhere, unfortunately, that's not how baseball works sometimes.”
And seemingly not for Gausman this time.
"Kev will go down as one of the best free-agent signings the organization has made, especially from a pitching standpoint,” said Schneider. “He's remarkably consistent, professional, good teammate, low maintenance, everything that you want in a front-line dude. … He's been just the model of consistency both in the clubhouse and on the field.”
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