Toronto Blue Jays utility man Ernie Clement offered an honest comment on not having to face new Chicago Cubs pitcher Kevin Gausman today.
The Blue Jays take on the Cubs in a makeup game on August 6 at Wrigley Field. Originally, Gausman was set to take on the Blue Jays in his Cubs debut, but instead, the Cubs opted to shift Gausman back a day to Friday’s game against the Kansas City Royals.
For Clement, he’s happy that the Cubs rejigged their rotation to give Gausman a day off, as he did not want to face his former teammate just four days after Toronto traded him to Chicago.
Ernie Clement Happy to Not Face Kevin Gausman
Speaking to reporters including Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi, Clement admitted that it would have been awkward to bat against Gausman just a few days after he was traded, and that he’s happy that the Blue Jays won’t have to do it.
“Ernie Clement said it was ‘too soon’ to be seeing Kevin Gausman tomorrow, thinking the Blue Jays were still facing their former teammate. Told Gausman had been pushed back, Clement exhaled and said, ‘oh, thank God. That would have been horrible. That’s why I was like, it’s too soon. I don’t want to face the guy that we just (traded), like one of our boys. That’s terrible. It will be great to see him. I’m just glad we’re not facing him. That’s hilarious,’” Clement said.
Blue Jays on Fire
Don’t look now, but the Blue Jays are on fire right now, having won three straight series, and are now just 3 GB of the third and final American League Wild Card spot.
Considering that Toronto sold off several of its players at the deadline, including Gausman, because the team was going to be in tough to make the postseason this year, the fact that they are this close to a playoff spot is pretty incredible.
However, the Blue Jays’ schedule going forward is not very favorable, as they are playing several playoff teams. But the playoffs are in sight if they can string together some wins.
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