Kevin Gausman brings an impressive October résumé into Game 2, while Fernando Tatis Jr. presents a dangerous matchup
The Chicago Cubs are up against it now after getting blown out in Game 1 of the best-of-three National Wild Card series in San Diego, with the Padres winning 8-0.
Fernando Tatis Jr. homered on the first pitch Matthew Boyd threw. Manny Machado homered two batters later. Xander Bogaerts also homered off Boyd. Michael King was outstanding for the Padres, carrying a no-hitter into the seventh and finishing the game with 7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 BB, and 8 K on 97 pitches.
The Cubs finished off with only three hits and four walks, striking out 11 times.
Game 2 has a Blue Jays angle, so we are focusing on it. Former Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman starts the game for the Cubs.
The Cubs brought him over from the Jays in a trade deadline deal in early August for just this situation.
There’s an injury angle to this. Gausman injured his left, non-throwing shoulder on Sept. 23 while diving to make a tag.
On Tuesday, Gausman said the shoulder is only “good enough” to pitch. That’s going to make workload for him a huge variable tonight.
Gausman talked about having to alter some movements with the left shoulder, not exactly a clean bill of health going into a massive game.
For Jays’ fans, memories of last fall’s World Series run, with Gausman the key cog in the starting rotation, are still painfully fresh.
Gausman made six postseason appearances, five starts, finishing 2-3 with a 2.93 ERA and 0.91 WHIP over 30 2/3 innings, allowing only 17 hits while striking out 26.
Opponents hit just .159 against him. Those 30 2/3 innings were the most ever by a Jays pitcher in a single postseason.
Will the Cubs see that version of Gausman tonight?
Game time is 10 p.m. EST tonight, with clear skies and 21 degrees C in the forecast. The Padres are starting Nick Pivetta (3-2, 2.86 ERA, 42K, and a 1.01 WHIP).
In MLB betting at Betway, the Padres are -150 moneyline favourites, with the Cubs at +125. San Diego is -1.5 on the runline (+140), with Chicago at +1.5 (-190). The total is 7.5 (the Over is +105, while the Under is -125).
Some tasty Gausman Betway props to consider: Over 4.5 strikeouts is +110, with the Under at -150; the line is -175 to get 4+ strikeouts, +220 for 6+ strikeouts; the Over on total hits allowed (3.5) is -210, with the Under at +145.
Pivetta missed nearly five months with an elbow injury, and since his return in September, he went 2-0 with a 1.45 ERA in four starts.
So Pivetta comes in healthy and is pitching well. Gausman comes in with the shoulder injury and, in his final three regular-season starts, gave up 10 earned runs in 15 1/3 innings.
Best bets for tonight: I am taking the Padres moneyline, rather than laying -1.5 in a playoff game.
I’m also leaning Tatis Over 1.5 total bases (hits only), with the Over at +110, and the Under at -145. Tatis Jr. is 9-for-25 against Gausman over his career, with two homers. That makes this matchup noteworthy.
