‘Foodie’ and World Series vet Kevin Gausman sees something cooking in Cubs: ‘The recipe is kind of there’

Kevin Gausman knows a thing or two about food.

And he’d like to know more.

“Chicago, I need your help,” the Cubs’ righty pitcher tweeted Monday. “Trying to figure out who has the best cinnamon rolls in the city!”

That post got hundreds of responses, many pointing him toward North Side staple Ann Sather.

“I just like good food,” he told Marquee Sports Network after they hooked him up with a taste test.

Maybe it’s why he kept talking in culinary terms when describing something else he likes: this Cubs team’s chances in October.

“The biggest thing with teams that make it to the World Series is you have to have a really good defense, you have to have good pitching, and you have to have timely hitting. We pretty much have just about all of that,” he said Tuesday. “Time will tell, obviously. But the recipe is kind of there.”

The cooks in the Cubs’ kitchen have indeed whipped up a contender.

The team started September with the highest-scoring offense in baseball, the best defensive squad in the game and – though team president Jed Hoyer wants more from his pitching staff – a couple recently acquired hurlers in Gausman and fellow righty Clay Holmes who look capable of delivering in the postseason.

Gausman, who referred to himself as a “foodie” during his cinnamon-roll tasting, is an expert on more than just sweet treats. He pitched in the World Series last fall as a member of a Blue Jays team that came agonizingly close to dethroning the Dodgers.

Gausman played a big role in the Jays’ run, pitching in six playoff games and recording a 2.93 ERA. He logged 12 2/3 innings in two starts in the World Series.

So he knows what these Cubs need to do to thrive.

“It’s just about putting it all together and not letting those moments get too big,” he said. “There are going to be moments where it’s going to get pretty big and it’s going to get pretty crazy, and if you’re not prepared for it, it’ll hit you right in the face.

“We’ve got a lot of guys who’ve played in the postseason and know that it’s all about how much you can control your emotions and your heartbeat.”

Wait a minute, that didn’t have anything to do with food.

Can we get back on topic here and say something meatier about these Cubs?

“The No. 1 thing is they’re hungry. They’re hungry for success,” Gausman said. “They want it for this team, they want it for this fan base, and they want it for each other. And they expect to win every day.

“I’ve only been on a couple teams that felt that way, and when you have the talent to do it, mixed with that mentality, it can be pretty fun to be around.”

Chef’s kiss.

Swanson swinging

Injured shortstop Dansby Swanson started taking swings Monday as he works back from a strained oblique.

“We’re making progress,” manager Craig Counsell said Tuesday. “With an oblique, the swinging is the thing that we have to go slowly with and kind of repeat days. But yesterday was a good day on his first day swinging.

“We’re along the timeline that we’d hoped. We just can’t skip any steps and [will] continue on the same path that we’re on.”

Steele standing

Lefty pitcher Justin Steele will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday.

Steele hasn’t pitched since April of last season while recovering from elbow surgery and a setback earlier this year.