Chicago Cubs Lineup (8/7/26): Gausman Making Cubs Debut
It looked like the Cubs were going to drop the last game of their homestand on Thursday, which would have been disappointing after sweeping the Dodgers. Not that losing to an AL Cy Young favorite would have been some kind of black mark, but the Cubs were playing like they’d already boarded their flight to Kansas City. Until Alex Bregman‘s homer shocked them to life like an AED.
That flight must have been a fun one, and there’s added excitement from getting two team debuts over the next two games. First up is 35-year-old Kevin Gausman, who has been throwing the same splitter since learning it from his JV pitching coach 20 years ago. Once a perennial Cy Young candidate in his own right, Gausman is having a down year so far.
He’s still able to miss bats, though, and he should get a big bump from joining a team that is playing much better than the Blue Jays have been. I have to think just getting past Thursday’s reunion with his old squad will have Gausman feeling good. He’ll feel even better if he can get some run support right out of the gate.
On the bump for the Royals is Daniel Aloysius Lynch IV, a Virginia native whose forefathers don’t have to recognize him playing in Missourah because they’re deep in the cold, cold ground. The southpaw has appeared 46 times without a start this season and has not pitched more than two innings in that time, but the Royals are giving him a shot at the rotation in the wake of several injuries. He probably won’t last very long, which is good for the Cubs given how bad KC’s bullpen has been.
Lynch has a relatively broad repertoire that includes a mid-90s sinker, a firm 86 mph changeup, an 87 mph slider, and a four-seam that he throws just slightly harder than the two-seam. He’ll also mix in the occasional 82 mph curve, which has been effective due to its deathball qualities. Due to his abbreviated role, Lynch has been two completely different pitchers based on the handedness of the batter he’s facing.
Left-handed hitters get a steady diet of sinkers (51%) and sliders (42%), and they’re slashing just .143/.195/.182 against him so far. Righties see a ton of changeups (41%) with a good deal of fastballs (23%), then sinkers (14%), sliders, and curves (both 11%). This is probably as extreme a disparity as I’ve seen in reviewing opposing starters, but I’d guess the mix evens out slightly when he’s expecting to see hitters more than once.
That might not happen tonight if he works efficiently, which has been his MO. Lynch is not a strikeout guy, so he relies on getting outs via contact. He generates a 51.5% grounder rate and keeps the ball in the yard, plus he’s a strike-thrower who doesn’t give out many free passes. His 1.96 ERA is due for a little correction based on his .220 BABIP against and 3.05 FIP, but that latter number is still really solid.
Despite throwing 409 innings over 170 appearances since 2021, this Cubs roster has a total of only two at-bats against Lynch. My guess is that they’ll be able to figure him out pretty quickly, which I suppose they’ll have to given what figures to be an abbreviated start. The Royals can’t expect to get more than 3-4 innings out of him, especially if the Cubs make him work, so this is a chance for the visitors to set themselves up for success over the rest of the weekend.
First pitch is at 8:10pm CT on Marquee and The Score.
