The Chicago Cubs missed a chance to secure a postseason spot Wednesday night after a 3-2 defeat against the Miami Marlins at Wrigley Field, a loss complicated by a left shoulder issue for starting pitcher Kevin Gausman and ongoing offensive struggles.
Missed Chances and a Familiar Test at Wrigley Field
The televisions around the Cubs clubhouse Wednesday night displayed the schedule for the following day, but no one in the locker room was locked in on the out-of-town scoreboard in Denver. The game between the D-backs and Rockies was not over—meaning a postseason clinch was still possible for Chicago—but no one in the locker room was locked in on that contest in Denver. The Cubs had just walked off the field following a 3-2 loss to the Marlins, marking a second straight night that the North Siders could not check the win-and-in box at Wrigley Field. Shortly after Dansby Swanson wrapped up a session with reporters, the D-backs finished off a victory to keep Chicago’s playoff hopes in the balance.
It always kind of seems like the baseball gods are going to test you,
Cubs starter Kevin Gausman said. And it always seems to come at a time when you don’t want it to.
That test involved a pile of missed opportunities over two games (2-for-26 with runners in scoring position) for a lineup currently lacking Alex Bregman as he works his way back from the foul ball that resulted in multiple facial fractures Sunday in Cincinnati.
Gausman’s Strong Outing and Unfortunate Exit
Another test was seeing Gausman, amid a strong outing, exit with a left shoulder issue that the Cubs will hope does not linger. Gausman delivered the type of performance the Cubs envisioned when they acquired him at the Deadline, racking up seven strikeouts and generating 19 of 21 whiffs via his signature splitter. The right-hander surrendered only one blemish: a 2-0 fastball in the heart of the zone that Kyle Stowers turned into a two-run home run in the sixth inning.
He pitched well. He made one mistake. They didn’t hit many balls hard, Cubs manager Craig Counsell said.
Later in the sixth, Griffin Conine reached on an infield single up the middle. Swanson got a glove on the ball but was too late with the throw to first. Heriberto Hernández sprinted from first to third on the play, and Gausman hustled to cover the bag. Cubs first baseman Michael Busch fired the ball to the pitcher, who caught it and made a diving tag on the runner for a highlight-reel out.
The spectacular play left Gausman grimacing after he shifted to his feet. Kind of an awkward position to be in,
Gausman explained. “I dislocated this shoulder in high school a long time ago. I didn’t necessarily do the same exact thing, but just kind of banged it pretty good. It felt fine until I kind of stood up to check the other runner. It just kind of felt the left shoulder was pretty weak at that point. It still feels pretty weak.”
Bullpen Resilience and Offensive Constraints
While the offense struggled to capitalize—needing an unearned run to end up with two runs in 12 innings, and seeing Pete Crow-Armstrong getting intentionally walked because of his speed and the lineup support he has—the bullpen provided bright spots in relief. Daniel Palencia faced four batters and retired them all, while Ryan Rolison retired four of the five batters he faced. Ryan Zeferjahn also got out of a jam, showcasing arms the team may need to lean on.
Yet, the collective bullpen workload across recent stretches and extra innings has left the pitching staff taxed, and ultimately, the collective bullpen ends up with lousy collective numbers.
Juggling Rotation Uncertainty and Scheduling Pressures
The loss dropped the Cubs’ record to 87-71, putting the North Siders into a tie with the Phillies for the second National League Wild Card spot. The Padres hold a one-game lead for the top Wild Card after beating the Dodgers, though the Cubs hold tiebreakers over both clubs. And another test looms: a doubleheader Friday in Boston after major weather issues are forecasted for Saturday and Sunday. As things stand, the Cubs and Red Sox have a game slated for Saturday, but the teams and Major League Baseball will keep contingency plans in mind as they monitor the forecast in the coming days. It is hardly ideal for a Cubs team that is trying to punch its ticket to the postseason.
Gausman’s shoulder issue complicates an already challenging pitching picture.
Really and truly, this one couldn’t be more out of our control,
Swanson said. “There’s just so much uncertainty, but there’s kind of some peace in that, knowing that ultimately, our job is to show up and put our best foot forward. We have a lot of pros in here who are capable of handling anything thrown their way.”
