Cubs now have Kevin Gausman injury scare that could throw playoff rotation into chaos

In a season of oddities, Alex Bregman's injury and a forecasted nor'easter being the latest examples, the Chicago Cubs could now be dealing with an injury to Kevin Gausman just when it seems their ideal plans for the starting rotation during the NL Wild Card series has been thrown into chaos.

Before Gausman even took the mound for the Cubs on Wednesday night, it had already been announced that the team would be playing a doubleheader against the Boston Red Sox on Friday. The current expectation is that Clay Holmes and David Peterson will start those games for the Cubs, ruling each veteran pitcher out for a start in Game 1 of the Wild Card round next Tuesday. An outcome that's more relevant to Holmes than it is Peterson.

With the start last night, Gausman would have been lined up to get the nod next Tuesday, but he's now dealing with an injury scare. Gausman exited the game on Wednesday night after making a diving play at third base. It was an incredible effort from the veteran starting pitcher to make the play, but in the aftermath, it was clear that something felt off.

After the game, it was revealed that Gausman is dealing with left shoulder discomfort. The Cubs are in a waiting game until Gausman reports to the field today, and that should give the team some sense of how severe the injury is if there is one.

Speaking with reporters after the game, Gausman essentially described it as being wait-and-see mode.

“I hope I wake up and feel great tomorrow, but you never know,” Gausman said. “Get on some medicine and get some treatment, try to get in front of it. It’s kind of a we’ll-wait-and-see-type thing.”

Kevin Gausman injury concern could leave Cubs scrambling to reset their playoff rotation

If Gausman, for some reason, was unable to start next Tuesday, chances are the Cubs would turn to Matthew Boyd. Boyd is starting on Thursday against the Miami Marlins and of all the starting pitchers currently on staff for the Cubs, would be the closest to normal rest for Game 1 of a Wild Card series. After that, it would seem that the Cubs would be forced to use Holmes or Peterson on short rest in Game 2, with Shota Imanaga being ready for a Game 3.

The hope is that things don't become that dire for the Cubs, but that hasn't been the story of the season in Chicago.

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