Gausman’s Fastball Strategy

During Monday night’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Kevin Gausman of the Chicago Cubs made his strategy clear. He relied heavily on four-seam fastballs, taking the Diamondbacks by surprise as they anticipated his usual focus on the splitter. His approach involved using fastballs for 66% of his pitches, resulting in a record-setting 24 called strikes. This strategy helped him achieve seven shutout innings during the Cubs’ 7-0 win. Remarkably, this marked only the fourth instance this year of a Cubs starter completing seven innings without conceding a run.

Although Gausman didn’t fully disclose when the Cubs figured out the Diamondbacks’ strategy, he noted they quickly recognized Arizona was inclined to expect the splitter.

“I’m not gonna give that away just because other people are watching too,” Gausman remarked with a smile. “But it was pretty early where we felt like we kind of figured out their game plan.”

Catcher Carson Kelly played a pivotal role by predicting that Arizona hitters might look for the splitter with two strikes. Gausman capitalized on this insight, utilizing his fastball effectively even after two strikes had been thrown.

“We blew some fastballs with two strikes kind of by guys today,” Gausman shared. “It’s always nice when you have good enough command where you can throw that pitch a lot.”

His mastery over the fastball was displayed through his precise command, landing 13 of his 15 first-pitch fastballs for strikes. Although 11 of his fastballs were put into play by Arizona, only two resulted in hits.

Historical Performance

Statcast records dating back to 2015 show only one pitcher has recorded more called strikes on their four-seam fastball than Gausman’s tally on Monday. He acknowledges that training between starts enhances his command.

“I’m a two-pitch guy so that secondary pitch, I’m gonna throw it a lot,” Gausman explained. He emphasized the necessity of both recognizing opportunities and having the command to take full advantage.

Significance for the Cubs

Gausman’s performance exemplifies the strength the Cubs anticipated when trading for him. Along with Clay Holmes, who allowed just one run over his last two starts, they form a strong pitching duo as the team approaches the postseason. Their performance is particularly valuable amidst recent inconsistencies from other pitchers like Matthew Boyd and Shota Imanaga.

Carson Kelly praised Gausman’s contributions and work ethic. “He’s a good energy guy, the work ethic is there,” Kelly said. “You can see that every inning; it seems like he gets stronger and stronger, and I think that’s something our guys can look at and build off of.”

Gausman’s recent games, including his experience last year with Toronto, showcase his October capability. He experienced Chicago’s unforgiving lineup earlier this season, falling victim to their relentless offense.

“They’re just relentless, one through nine,” Gausman remarked, recalling a June 19 game where he faced seven runs over two innings.

Cubs’ Team Dynamics

Though the main hitters combined for only two hits, backup players rose to the occasion. The rookie Pedro Ramírez secured a lead in the second inning with an RBI triple, part of his outstanding two-hit game. Seiya Suzuki’s RBI double contributed to the scoreboard, while Michael Conforto and Carson Kelly hit consecutive home runs in the sixth inning, building a five-run lead.

Performances by Ian Happ and Nico Hoerner added momentum in subsequent innings.

The Cubs, standing at 76 wins to 56 losses, are leveraging team synergy for a better postseason outlook.

Cubs manager Counsell commended Conforto’s adaptation, which has influenced the other players positively. Contributions from across the roster proven during Monday’s victory remain crucial for solidifying playoff prospects.

Conforto noted his alignment with the team’s goals. “The big thing is coming in here and being honest at this point in my career, I want to win games,” Conforto expressed. “There’s an expectation. One of the big things is having a real honest belief that you can win the whole thing.”