Chicago Cubs Lineup (8/13/26): Gausman Makes Second Start for Sweep

The Cubs’ surge continued last night in DC as they put up 12 runs to win going away and boost themselves into first place for runs scored in the second half. Having Alex Bregman hitting like an MVP candidate for the last few weeks sure has helped, but he’s not alone by any stretch. This hot stretch has seen the Cubs gain two games on the Brewers in the last two days, with seven matchups remaining between the two rivals.

Kevin Gausman will be on the bump this afternoon for the second time in his new uniform, and he’s looking for similar results. Minus the comebacker to the foot, that is. After running into a spot of bother right out of the gate in KC, Gausman settled in to go seven innings with just two runs allowed. He used his splitter more than he had in any game with the Jays, something I suspect we’ll continue to see down the stretch.

All he needs to do it play keep-away if the bats keep working like they have been, especially with all those homers. Pete Crow-Armstrong is in center, Seiya Suzuki is in right, and Michael Busch is at first. Bregman is at third, Ian Happ handles left, and Pedro Ramírez gets the start at second. Dansby Swanson is the shortstop, Michael Conforto serves as the DH, and Miguel Amaya is behind the plate.

They’re facing righty Cade Cavalli, the No. 22 overall pick from 2020, who has risen through the ranks to become Washington’s staff ace. Some of that is by default, as there aren’t many other viable options right now. This is Cavalli’s first full season after dealing with a number of health issues that eliminated chunks of the last four years.

Shoulder inflammation ended his 2022 campaign after his debut start, then a torn UCL during spring training in 2023 curtailed that season and most of the next. Upon returning in the second half of 2024, a bout with the flu and “dead arm” kept him to just three appearances in the minors. He finally made his second MLB appearance on August 6, 2025, a little less than three years from his debut.

Though his numbers haven’t been spectacular, Cavalli has a tremendous curveball/sweeper combo that can make him borderline dominant when his other stuff is working. The problem is that his 97 mph fastball is flat, and he gets below-average extension to boot. His sinker is likewise unremarkable, and his changeup is pedestrian.

What’s interesting about his breaking ball combo is that the two pitches look far more similar than they should. Cavalli’s sweeper gets almost eight more inches of depth than average, putting it very much in the range of his curve. Both pitches sit right around 86 mph, which is harder than most. The difference, of course, is found in the horizontal break. The sweeper gets a few more glove-side inches, getting right-handed hitters to chase and either whiff or create weak contact.

Cavalli is a strike-thrower, which works both for and against him. As noted, the fastball and sinker too often end up right in the heart of the zone. Same for the changeup, though he doesn’t throw it as often. That has burned him all season, with 128 hits in just under 129 innings, and he’s given up six homers over the last three games. His ability to generate grounders can get him out of trouble, but he surrenders too much hard contact to escape every time.

The Cubs have too little exposure to Cavalli for any kind of analysis, so we’ll just have to rely on their recent results. Being aggressive against him is the way to go this afternoon. If they continue to punish mistakes, they should be able to take this one.

First pitch is at 3:05pm CT on Marquee and The Score.