Former Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman spent his Monday off in a way that had plenty of fans smiling: back in Toronto with his wife, Taylor.
With the Chicago Cubs holding their final off day of the regular season, the 35-year-old right-hander made the trip from Cincinnati to Toronto for a quick visit. Taylor shared photos from the day on social media, including a walk past Rogers Centre and a dinner stop at Akira Back, the upscale Japanese-Korean restaurant on the second floor of the Bisha Hotel at 80 Blue Jays Way in the Entertainment District.
She also posted a shot of the couple digging into the restaurant’s Tuna Pizza, which comes on a tortilla crust and is topped with thinly sliced bigeye tuna, umami aioli and Maldon sea salt.
Gausman’s return to the city comes after a deadline deal sent him to Chicago in exchange for rookie outfielder Brett Bateman and infield prospect Ty Southisene. Even with that move, he and his family appear to have kept strong ties to Toronto.
That fits with what Gausman said after leaving the Blue Jays on the 6ix Inning Stretch podcast.
"This isn't goodbye. I'll be around, so don't be surprised if you see me around Toronto," he said.
The timing makes the visit even more notable. The 2026 season is still going, and Blue Jays fans likely didn’t expect to see him back so soon. Gausman is also set to become a free agent this offseason, which leaves the door open for a possible return if Toronto decides to make a push.
For now, though, his focus shifts right back to Chicago. He is scheduled to start Tuesday night against the Miami Marlins.
The Cubs are also in a very different spot from the Blue Jays at the moment. Chicago is one win away from clinching a National League Wild Card berth, while Toronto’s postseason path is getting tighter by the day. The Blue Jays are one loss from being mathematically eliminated and would need to win their final five games, along with major help elsewhere, to stay alive.
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