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Cubs debut Kevin Gausman vs. Royals Friday

8/8/2026

35 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Gausman Debuts

The Cubs, who acquired Kevin Gausman from Toronto on August 4 for minor-league players, will start him in his debut on Friday, August 7, 2026, versus Kansas City.
Gausman enters with a 5-10 record, 4.38 ERA, 11 quality starts and a career 3.25 ERA versus Kansas City.
Kansas City will start left-hander Daniel Lynch IV, who is 4-2 with a 1.96 ERA in 2026 but 11-23 with a 5.19 ERA in 56 career starts.

Summary

Gausman Asks Skip

Kevin Gausman asked the Cubs to skip his debut against the Toronto Blue Jays because facing his former teammates would be mentally taxing.
He is in the final year of the five-year, $110 million contract signed in November 2021.
Chicago obtained Gausman for Brett Bateman and Ty Southisene.
His Toronto tenure ranks him in the franchise’s top-10 for starts (148), strikeouts (920) and ERA (3.62).

History

Historical Context

In 1996 Roger Clemens left the Boston Red Sox as a free agent, signing a four-year, $40 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays and winning back-to-back Cy Young Awards. His 1999 mid-season trade to the New York Yankees illustrated teams’ use of veteran arms for playoff pushes. The Chicago Cubs’ August 2026 acquisition of Kevin Gausman from Toronto mirrors that contention-driven strategy.

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Gausman Debuts

The Cubs, who acquired Kevin Gausman from Toronto on August 4 for minor-league players, will start him in his debut on Friday, August 7, 2026, versus Kansas City.
Gausman enters with a 5-10 record, 4.38 ERA, 11 quality starts and a career 3.25 ERA versus Kansas City.
Kansas City will start left-hander Daniel Lynch IV, who is 4-2 with a 1.96 ERA in 2026 but 11-23 with a 5.19 ERA in 56 career starts.

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