Clay Holmes set for Cubs debut in matchup vs. Royals

A day after one new pitching addition shined in his debut for the Chicago Cubs, another has chance to do the same.

Right-hander Clay Holmes will start on Saturday night for the first time as a member of the Cubs, who will try for their sixth consecutive victory when they host the Kansas City Royals.

Holmes (4-4, 2.39 ERA) provides more experience for Chicago, which acquired him from the New York Mets on Monday along with outfielder Tyrone Taylor in a deal that sent prized Cubs prospect Jefferson Rojas to New York.

Holmes has made just nine starts this season and will pitch for the first time since May 15 after being out with a broken leg. How long the Cubs use the two-time All-Star on Saturday remains to be seen.

"I really feel confident and really prepared about what I've been able to do," said Holmes, who is 3-2 with a 2.10 ERA on the road in 2026. "For that to be here with the Chicago Cubs is going to be amazing."

Holmes joins a Cubs team that is 19 games over .500 and sits atop the NL wild-card standings following a 6-4 victory Friday over Kansas City. Kevin Gausman, Chicago's other prominent trade-deadline acquisition, allowed two runs over seven solid innings in his Cubs own debut Friday.

"This is a complete team," Holmes said. "You have the defense, the lineup, the pitching. Just to see the roster, I mean, it's an exciting group."

Holmes has faced the Royals 11 times in his career, going 2-2 with three saves and a 5.28 ERA. His only start against them came last season, when he yielded two runs over five innings.

On Friday, Chicago's Seiya Suzuki had a two-run double among his two hits. He's batting .326 with eight RBIs in his last 11 contests.

Teammate Alex Bregman added a run-scoring single in the series opener and is hitting .360 with seven RBIs in his last 12 games.

Suzuki and Bregman are a combined 5-for-21 against scheduled Royals starter Seth Lugo (4-7, 4.41 ERA).

The veteran right-hander had his stretch of three straight quality starts end Sunday, when he allowed five runs, five hits and five walks over five innings in an 8-1 loss at Colorado. Since becoming a full-time starter again in 2023, Lugo is 1-2 with a 6.23 ERA against the Cubs.

Despite losing two straight games to fall to 2-2 on a six-game homestand, the Royals still have a chance to win their fifth consecutive series at Kauffman Stadium.

Promising Kansas City rookie Carter Jensen is batting only .143 in his last 17 games, but he hit his 16th home run on Friday.

"That gave him a boost," Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. "He's swung the bat better in these last few games.

Kansas City star Salvador Perez is batting just .216 this season but is 2-for-4 against Holmes in his career, including a home run.

--Field Level Media