Clay Holmes
Breakdown
Performance
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August 9, 2026
Rusty in return, team debut
Holmes (4-5) took the loss against the Royals on Saturday, allowing four runs on six hits and two walks in four innings. He struck out one.
Analysis
Making both his Cubs team debut and return from nearly a two-month absence due to a fractured fibula, Holmes was mostly ineffective and failed to turn in a single clean inning of work. The 33-year-old right-hander managed to throw 70 pitches in what was arguably a season-worst outing, but his workload restrictions are likely to loosen in future starts. Holmes will aim to rebound in his next scheduled appearance against the Cardinals, still holding a strong 2.86 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 46:20 K:BB over 56.2 innings.
August 8, 2026
Activated ahead of start
The Cubs reinstated Holmes (fibula) from the 60-day injured list ahead of his start Saturday against the Royals, Vinnie Duber of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Analysis
Holmes has been on the shelf since May due to a fractured fibula. He made three rehab starts in the minors while he was still in the Mets organization, logging a 3.86 ERA and 1.37 WHIP across 11.2 innings. He built up to 73 pitches during his final rehab outing, so he isn't likely to have a significant workload restriction while he makes his Cubs debut against a Royals offense that's posted just a .688 OPS since the All-Star break. Braxton Garrett was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move.
August 4, 2026
Slated for Cubs debut this weekend
Manager Craig Counsell said that Holmes (fibula) is expected to be activated from the 60-day injured list to make his Cubs debut with a start this weekend in Kansas City, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Analysis
Before the Mets traded him Monday, Holmes hadn't made an appearance at the big-league level since May 15, but the Cubs are confident that the right-hander is fully recovered from a fractured right fibula and sufficiently stretched out after completing a three-start minor-league rehab assignment. During his final rehab appearance this past Sunday at High-A Brooklyn, Holmes tossed 5.1 innings and 73 pitches, so he's not expected to have a major workload restriction as he slots into the Chicago rotation. For at least this week, the Cubs will skip Colin Rea's turn in the rotation to open up starting roles for Holmes and fellow trade-deadline pickup Kevin Gausman. Holmes posted a 2.39 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 45:18 K:BB over 52.2 innings in his nine starts with the Mets prior to landing on the IL.
August 3, 2026
Catches on with Cubs
The Cubs acquired Holmes (fibula) and outfielder Tyrone Taylor from the Mets on Monday in exchange for infielder Jefferson Rojas, Chelsea Janes of SNY.tv reports.
Analysis
Holmes didn't end up making it back from the injured list before the trade deadline, but the veteran right-hander showed well enough during the third start of his rehab assignment Sunday at High-A Brooklyn to have plenty of suitors vying for his services. The right-hander will ultimately land with the Cubs, who already bolstered their rotation over the weekend with the acquisition of Kevin Gausman. After covering 5.1 innings and 73 pitches Sunday, Holmes would appear to be stretched out enough to handle a starting role right away with the Cubs, though it's unclear if he'll be in store for a long-term spot in the rotation. Edward Cabrera (hamstring) began a rehab assignment Friday and could eventually emerge as a starting candidate once he returns from the IL, and the Cubs have received quality results of late from back-end rotation members Colin Rea and David Peterson. Holmes may plenty of experience working as a high-leverage reliever, so he might be ticketed for the bullpen once the Cubs pare down their rotation late in the season.
August 3, 2026
Completes third rehab start
Holmes (fibula) allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits and no walks while striking out three batters across 5.1 innings in a rehab start Sunday with High-A Brooklyn.
Analysis
Making what may have been his final start as a member of the Mets organization, Holmes showed that he's ready to return from the 60-day injured list after being shelved for the past two-and-a-half months due to a right fibula fracture. He built up to 73 pitches in Sunday's outing, spotting 53 of his offerings for strikes while sporting a sinker that sat around 91-to-93 mph. According to John Flanigan of SNY.tv, the Diamondbacks, Phillies, Rays and Rangers all had scouts in attendance in Brooklyn to monitor the 32-year-old right-hander, who is a prime candidate to be moved ahead of Monday's trade deadline.