#kevin-gausman

#kevin-gausman

While re-signing both could be possible, extending Gausman should be the preferred choice if it ends up being one or the other situation. Very few starting pitchers in the game are as consistent as Gausman. He's made at least 31 starts each of the past five seasons with an ERA of 3.83 or better. All signs point to him putting up strong numbers again after showing no signs of slowing down in 2025.

Gausman, who will be 35 in January, threw a career-high 193 innings during the 2025 regular season with a 3.59 ERA (119 ERA+) and 1.062 WHIP. His strikeout rate was up compared to the previous year, while his hits-per-nine allowed and walks were down. The right-hander also pitched the best postseason baseball of his career during the Blue Jays' magical World Series run. He went at least five-and-two-thirds innings in each of his five starts while never allowing more than three runs.

What we don't know yet is who'll be lifting the trophy once it's all said and done. Old friend Kevin Gausman could potentially put himself in a position to where he'll never have to pay for a meal or a drink in the city of Toronto (and possibly the whole country) if he delivers a strong performance that leads to a Blue Jays win tonight.

The Mariners and Blue Jays have always felt very similar to me, twins separated at birth and raised on the other side of the continent. Both clubs were birthed in the era of 1970s expansion (they were formed in the exact same year, in fact: 1977). They're both northern latitude teams that play in domes.

Jacob deGrom had a career-first start without a strikeout, marking the end of a remarkable streak of 228 games with at least one strikeout.