Chicago Cubs right-hander Kevin Gausman exited his Wednesday start against the visiting Miami Marlins due to left shoulder injury sustained while making a diving tag in the sixth inning.
After the game, manager Craig Counsell told reporters that Gausman’s non-throwing shoulder “got extended weird, and it just grabbed on him a little bit.”
Gausman told reporters that he dislocated the same shoulder in high school.
“I hope I wake up and feel great tomorrow, but you never know,” said Gausman, 35, who added he would take something to “get in front of it tonight.”
Gausman, whom the Cubs acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays last month, allowed a one-out, two-run home run to Kyle Stowers in the sixth to give the Marlins a 2-0 lead.
After Heriberto Hernandez walked, Miami’s Griffin Conine hit a grounder to the right of second base. Shortstop Dansby Swanson fielded the ball and threw to first base too late to retire Conine. Hernandez tried for third, and Cubs first baseman Michael Busch fired to Gausman, who was scrambling to the bag. Gausman caught the ball at his feet and lunged to tag out Hernandez.
However, Gausman winced as he got up. Counsell replaced him with Javier Assad, who was warming up in the bullpen.
The Cubs, who need just one win or an Arizona Diamondbacks loss to clinch a National League wild-card spot, have been dealing with pitching injuries all season, with 10 pitchers making at least eight starts.
Gausman, who is 9-12 with a 4.51 ERA between the Blue Jays and Cubs in 32 starts this season, is 4-2 with a 4.83 ERA in nine starts for the Cubs.
