The Chicago Cubs arrive in Kansas City following a three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers and a comeback win over the Toronto Blue Jays, bringing a 67-49 record into Friday’s series opener. The weekend set brings immediate reinforcements to the mound, with newly acquired right-handers Kevin Gausman and Clay Holmes scheduled to take their turns.

Kevin Gausman and Clay Holmes Set for Weekend Debuts

Gausman, acquired in a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays, joins the Cubs after pitching at least 174 2/3 innings and making at least 31 starts in each of the previous five seasons. Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer noted that the team had asked about his availability for years before finally landing the 35-year-old right-hander.

“When I told my wife it was the Cubs, she was like, ‘It’s about time,’ because just in Baltimore [with the Orioles] for years, it seemed like it was kind of always a link to here. … Happy that I’m here finally.”

Kevin Gausman, via Foxsports

Holmes arrived at Wrigley Field earlier in the week alongside outfielder Tyrone Taylor after being acquired from the New York Mets in exchange for infield prospect Jefferson Rojas. Holmes spent the previous months recovering from a fractured right fibula sustained on May 15 when he was struck by a comebacker, but he is now poised to step directly into the Cubs’ active starting rotation.

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“You want to win your last game. You put in all the work, you put in all the preparation, you forge relationships to be a team that wins it at the end. And to know you have a real chance to do that, especially at this point in the season, is energizing.”

Clay Holmes, via MLB

Manager Craig Counsell Shapes a Revamped Pitching Rotation

The influx of deadline talent creates complex roster decisions for manager Craig Counsell. In addition to Gausman and Holmes, the Cubs added reliever Ryan Zeferjahn from the Angels and left-hander Braxton Garrett ahead of the deadline. Colin Rea has returned to the bullpen for now after the team skipped his latest turn in the rotation, and further adjustments are anticipated.

“I think we’re going to have guys pitch at doing things they maybe haven’t done in the past as much, and that may be a little, you know, different for them, and we may have to kind of be careful with how we manage them in those roles, but these things will figure themselves out. I also think that we have some competition kind of in the starting rotation right now, too.”

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Craig Counsell, via Foxsports

Holmes, who logged 73 pitches across 5 1/3 innings during a rehab outing with High-A Brooklyn, brings a valuable postseason pedigree that includes 19 career playoff appearances and five World Series games with the Yankees against the Dodgers in 2024. While slated for the starting rotation, his history as an elite-level closer gives Counsell tactical flexibility down the stretch.

“Whatever it is down the stretch — whether they need a starter, the bullpen — I just love being out there when big outs are needed. Whenever that is, I’m all for it.”

Clay Holmes, via MLB

Matchups and Probables at Kauffman Stadium

The Royals host the weekend series with a 48-68 record, leaning on a home offense that has posted a 104 wRC+ this season, notably outperforming their road numbers. Kansas City manager Matt Quatraro has given Daniel Lynch IV an opportunity to transition into a full-time starting role after serving as a dominant reliever with a 1.96 ERA through 46.0 innings.

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Following the weekend series in Kansas City, the Cubs will observe an off-day Monday before beginning a three-game road series against the Washington Nationals.