Cubs still don't have Kevin Gausman answers with NL Wild Card Series closing in

Kevin Gausman threw a bullpen for the Chicago Cubs before their game against the Boston Red Sox on Sunday, but his status for the NL Wild Card series remains in question. Gausman suffered a shoulder injury against the Miami Marlins last Wednesday, and the Cubs are expected to make a decision today regarding his status for the series against the San Diego Padres this week.

When the Cubs traded for Gausman at the trade deadline, the expectation was that he could be the Game 1 starter for the team during a playoff series. With his start against the Marlins last Wednesday, Gausman was lined up for a Game 1 start.

Kevin Gausman injury mystery continues as Cubs prepare for NL Wild Card Series

Beyond Gausman being healthy enough to make a start against the Padres, it could be a matter of whether or not he is on the roster. While the Cubs wouldn't place Gausman on the IL, considering that could put his availability for a potential NLDS against the Milwaukee Brewers in jeopardy, it's possible they leave him off the Wild Card round roster in an effort to add another arm to the bullpen.

It's worth mentioning that against the Padres in the NL Wild Card series last October, the Cubs rostered 12 pitchers. It would a safe assumption to suggest they will follow a similar blueprint this time around.

If Gausman is healthy, he certainly remains the most logical option to start Game 1 on Tuesday. If not, chances are the Cubs would turn to Matthew Boyd. As for the full rotation, it could look like this.

1. Matthew Boyd
2. Clay Holmes
3. Shota Imanaga

Imanaga was the starting pitcher on Sunday, but only pitched one inning before giving way to Braxton Garrett. Clay Holmes pitched on Friday for the Cubs, so pitching on Wednesday would give him four days of rest. That leaves the Thursday start for Imanaga, if needed. It's also possible that David Peterson is part of the conversation, even as a potential piggy-back option for Holmes or Imanaga.

It's a painful twist of fate that after Jed Hoyer and Co. were aggressive at the deadline, stabilizing their rotation, there's still uncertainty around who is going to take the mound for the Cubs in Game 1 of a playoff series. That's not exactly how the plan was drawn up for the Cubs, but then again, neither was spending most of season without Cade Horton, Justin Steele, and Ben Brown.

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