Kevin Gausman relieved to not make Cubs debut vs. Blue Jays

Trade deadline acquisition Kevin Gausman said he was relieved to not be making his Chicago Cubs debut against the Toronto Blue Jays, his former team, on Thursday.

Gausman told reporters that he "didn't necessarily ask" to not pitch against Toronto, "but I was like, 'Could we please not?'"

The right-hander instead will make his Cubs debut on the road against the Kansas City Royals on Friday.

"I just know it would be a lot," Gausman said about the possibility of pitching against Toronto in his first Cubs start, according to Sportsnet. "I just want to focus on trying to win a game and pitching against them, I think I could do it, I know those hitters pretty well over there, their strengths, their weaknesses. But I think it would a lot mentally. For them, too.

"Really close with all those guys. Wish them nothing but the best. Looking forward to watching us play them today and seeing those guys again, but definitely glad I'm not facing them."

Gausman, 35, who is in the last year of a five-year, $110 million deal, is 5-10 with a 4.38 ERA and 127 strikeouts in 23 starts this season. He was acquired from Toronto on Monday in exchange for Triple-A outfielder Brett Bateman and Class-A infielder Ty Southisene.

He pitched at least 174 innings and made at least 31 starts in each of the previous five seasons, and he helped the Blue Jays reach the 2025 World Series, going 2-3 with a 2.93 ERA in six postseason starts.

ESPN's Jesse Rogers and The Associated Press contributed to this report.