Kevin Gausman threw a bullpen Sunday, but his playoff status remains genuinely unclear.

The former Blue Jays pitcher suffered a shoulder injury against the Marlins last Wednesday, and the Cubs are expected to decide today on his status for this week's series against the Padres.

Paul Sullivan reported the bullpen session was encouraging, but nothing definitive yet.

"Gausman threw bullpen here. Felt like a step forward but won't know til tomorrow whether he'll feel good enough to go. Could start Game 1 or 2 if he's ready," Sullivan wrote.

Chicago acquired Gausman at the deadline specifically expecting he could be a Game 1 starter in a playoff series, and his outing last Wednesday had him lined up for exactly that role before the shoulder issue emerged.

Why this goes beyond just his own availability

There's more at stake here than simply whether Gausman can pitch. The Cubs have avoided placing him on the IL, likely to preserve his eligibility for a potential NLDS against the Brewers.

But that also means Chicago could still leave him off the Wild Card round roster entirely if it decides an extra bullpen arm is more valuable there.

Last October, the Cubs rostered 12 pitchers for their Wild Card series against the Padres, and a similar blueprint seems likely again this time.

If Gausman is healthy, he remains the obvious Game 1 choice. If not, Matthew Boyd looks like the logical alternative, with a potential rotation shaping up as Boyd, Clay Holmes, and Shota Imanaga.

Imanaga started Sunday but only worked one inning before giving way to Braxton Garrett, while Holmes pitched Friday, putting him on four days' rest for a possible Wednesday start.

David Peterson could also factor in, potentially as a piggyback option behind Holmes or Imanaga.

It's a rough twist for Chicago after an aggressive trade deadline built specifically to stabilize this rotation. Uncertainty over the Game 1 starter wasn't part of the plan, though the Cubs also didn't plan on missing most of the season without Cade Horton, Justin Steele, and Ben Brown either.

For a former Blue Jays ace looking to prove himself in his first real postseason opportunity with a new club, this injury scare adds real drama right before the games that matter most.