ST. PETERSBURG – Cubs manager Craig Counsell likes to have as much information in hand as possible before announcing any plans for his pitching staff. That is true throughout the regular season, and it is especially the case when the stakes are raised in the playoffs.
So on Sunday, as the Cubs were wrapping up the 162-game slate with a 6-2 win over the Red Sox on neutral ground at Tropicana Field, Counsell had yet to tip his hand as to how the rotation will line up for the National League Wild Card Series against the Padres. This is not a new approach, and the manager’s pitchers all know the drill by now.
“Collectively,” said veteran left-hander Matthew Boyd, “whatever outs we’re called to get, we’ll be ready to get them. Whatever situation, whatever rest, at this time of year, it’s about, ‘What can you do today?’ And that’s all that’s really important.”
There were two developments on Sunday in St. Petersburg:
• Right-hander Kevin Gausman, who injured his left shoulder while making a diving tag in his last start on Wednesday against the Marlins, completed a bullpen session with encouraging results. If Gausman recovers well into Monday, he could be in play to take the ball in Game 1 on Tuesday night.
• Lefty Shota Imanaga started against the Red Sox in the season finale, but he worked only one inning and logged just 12 pitches (10 strikes). He struck out three and allowed a solo homer in what was, effectively, a bullpen session against hitters. He should be available as early as Game 2 on Wednesday, and certainly for a potential Game 3 on Thursday.
“The good thing is,” Gausman said, “I feel confident with any one of these guys starting Game 1 or Game 2, or any game. It’s a good problem to have.”
Gausman said the data on his mound workout looked relatively normal, but he still was not sure if he will be 100% to go for Tuesday’s game.
“Today was a big step in the right direction,” Gausman said. “I’m going to go out and give everything I’ve got, but if I feel like I can’t give this team a chance to win or pitch the way I know I can, then I need to be smart and think about these guys and not myself.
“Honestly, it’s pretty easy this time of year. Everybody’s chasing the same goal. The goal is to get to the World Series in any shape or form. I’m ready for whatever.”
As things currently stand, Boyd or Gausman looks like the top choice for the opener of the best-of-three Wild Card Series at Petco Park. Righty Clay Holmes and lefty David Peterson both started in Friday’s doubleheader against the Red Sox at Fenway Park, so they should be available for Game 2 at the earliest. As noted, Imanaga also looks to be in play after the first game.
Counsell has also continued to emphasize his modus operandi of worrying more about all 27 outs, as opposed to who takes the ball as the starting pitcher. The rotation members who do not get the nod as starters might very well wind up in the bullpen. Given the big right-handed hitters in San Diego’s lineup, Counsell might think about being creative with how he maps things out.
Gausman has pitched in 14 playoff games over the course of his career among runs with the Orioles, Braves, Giants and Blue Jays. That includes eight starts and six relief efforts, including one bullpen appearance during last October’s push to the World Series with Toronto. He said pitchers have to be open to any role at this point.
“You really have to change your mindset,” Gausman said. “Whatever you think is going to happen, you don’t know what’s going to happen. So you've got to be ready for anything. And that speaks for even the normal relievers. Guys are going to be asked to do things that they maybe haven’t been asked to do all season.”
The Cubs do not have to set their postseason roster until Tuesday.
“We have more decisions to make,” Counsell said prior to Sunday’s game. “And that’ll probably be [discussed] until we get through the [last] game and into tomorrow until we make all those decisions.”