Gausman took the loss after giving up three runs on five hits and no walks across 3.1 innings during Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Padres on Wednesday. He struck out one.
The veteran right-hander surrendered two runs during the second inning and was pulled with one out in the fourth after allowing a double to Xander Bogaerts, who later came around to score on Gavin Sheets' two-run homer. Gausman finished the regular season pitching well with two runs allowed over exactly 5.2 frames in each of his last two starts, but his overall performance for the Cubs after being acquired from the Blue Jays at the trade deadline was underwhelming. Including the playoff start, he pitched in 10 games for Chicago and had a 5.03 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 58:11 K:BB across 53.2 innings. Gausman heads into free agency this winter after posting a 4.51 ERA in 32 regular-season starts in 2026, which is his worst mark since 2019.
Conforto isn't in the lineup Wednesday for Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Padres.
Conforto will retreat to the bench for a second straight game as the Cubs use Alex Bregman as their designated hitter again, allowing Matt Shaw to start at the hot corner.
Boyd (0-1) took the loss in Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series against the Padres on Tuesday. He gave up four runs on five hits with four strikeouts and a walk over four innings.
The left-hander didn't have trouble finding the zone with 42 of his 58 pitches going for strikes, but the Friars made plenty of hard contact with four extra-base hits, including three homers. The poor showing from Boyd was a departure from his recent form, as he surrendered just two earned runs across 12 frames in his final two starts of the regular season. The Cubs will need to salvage the next two games in San Diego for Boyd to get a chance at redeeming himself with another playoff start.
The Cubs outrighted Kelly to Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday.
He's now off the team's 40-man roster. Kelly has been outrighted previously, so he has the ability to decline the assignment and become a free agent, which seems likely. The lefty made one scoreless relief appearance for the Cubs this season in his major-league debut.
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Cubs' Kevin Gausman: Tapped for Game 2 start
Rotowire
Gausman will start Game 2 of the wild-card series versus the Padres on Wednesday, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.
Gausman will be tasked with helping to stave off elimination after the Cubs were shut out in the Padres' 8-0 Game 1 victory. The right-hander injured his left (non-throwing) shoulder in his final regular-season start one week ago, but he feels well enough to take the ball in Game 2's win-or-go-home scenario.
Bregman is starting as the designated hitter and batting second Tuesday for Game 1 of the wild-card series against the Padres.
Bregman is not in the field Tuesday since it is the "safest way to make sure he gets at-bats" according to Cubs manager Craig Counsell, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports. With the 32-year-old starting as the designated hitter, Pedro Ramirez enters the lineup as the third baseman and Michael Conforto exits to the bench.
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Cubs' Michael Conforto: Not starting in series opener
Rotowire
Conforto is not in the lineup Tuesday for Game 1 of the wild-card series against the Padres.
Alex Bregman has the start as the designated hitter instead of Conforto on Tuesday and is batting second. With Bregman not in the field, Pedro Ramirez is taking over at the hot corner.
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