Clay Holmes makes Cubs debut against Royals, allowed four runs
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 11, 2026, 5:45 PM
Last updated Aug 11, 2026

Clay Holmes made his debut with the Cubs on August 9 against the Royals, pitching four innings. He gave up four runs on six hits, walked two batters, and struck out one. This outing marked his first start since suffering a leg injury in mid-May. The Cubs acquired Holmes from the Mets in exchange for top prospect Jefferson Rojas, aiming to bolster their pitching staff with a ground ball-heavy approach. His performance was evaluated as part of a broader trend in his pitching style, focusing on inducing ground balls to leverage the Cubs' elite defense.
- •Holmes allowed four earned runs in his first start as a Cub.
- •The Cubs traded Jefferson Rojas, a top prospect, for Holmes.
- •Holmes mainly relies on his sinker pitch, averaging 94 mph.
- •He previously served successfully as a reliever before becoming a starter.
- •The Cubs hope Holmes will generate ground balls behind their strong defense.
- 5:45 PMYahoo Sports — The Clay Holmes trade by the numbers
"The Cubs’ new right-hander’s signature pitch is his sinker.
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