The Chicago Cubs did exactly what they needed to do at Monday's trade deadline, acquiring four pitchers to help fix their beleaguered pitching staff. Now, they're about to see one of their biggest additions take the mound.
Ahead of Wednesday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, manager Craig Counsell said the plan is for Clay Holmes to be activated from the injured list and make his Cubs debut Saturday against the Kansas City Royals, assuming his bullpen session goes well today.
Holmes was arguably Chicago's most impactful acquisition at the deadline. The Cubs acquired him and outfielder Tyrone Taylor from the New York Mets in exchange for top prospect Jefferson Rojas.
The former reliever turned starter has not pitched in a major league game since May 15, when a 111.1 mph line drive from New York Yankees outfielder Spencer Jones fractured his right fibula.
Before the injury, Holmes was one of the best starters in the National League through nine starts. In 52.2 innings, he posted a 2.39 ERA with 45 strikeouts and a 1.10 WHIP. He also held opponents to a .206 batting average while allowing just one home run.
The right-hander was always seen as a perfect fit with the Cubs and their top-notch infield defense. Holmes generates ground balls at an extremely high 55.3 percent rate, largely because of his signature sinker, which he throws 50 percent of the time.
Holmes admitted as much during his first media availability as a Cub on Wednesday.
"For me, this defense. This is probably one of the best places I could've came," Holmes said. "Super-excited to join these guys and this team and just getting to fight with them."
Before being acquired, Holmes made three rehab starts in the Mets' minor league system. In his latest outing, he allowed seven hits and three runs over 5.1 innings while walking none and striking out three.
The two-time All-Star threw 73 pitches, meaning the Cubs will likely still have him on some sort of pitch count for at least his first start back.
Chicago's other major trade acquisition, Kevin Gausman, is set to make his Cubs debut one day before Holmes on Friday. With David Peterson scheduled to start Thursday, Chicago will get its first look at a completely revamped rotation built through trades. The Cubs acquired Peterson, also from the Mets, in June.
Chicago will have to figure out their suddenly crowded rotation as time goes on. Shota Imanaga and Matthew Boyd figure to be locks, along with Edward Cabrera, who is nearing a return.
Then there's Javier Assad, who has pitched well since being inserted back into the rotation, and fellow deadline acquisition Braxton Garrett, whom the Cubs acquired from the Miami Marlins.
It's certainly a logjam, but considering the state of the rotation just a month ago, it's a problem Chicago will gladly take.
