Chicago’s high-stakes trade deadline acquisitions take center stage this weekend.
The Chicago Cubs have tentatively set their pitching schedule for the first two days of their series against the Kansas City Royals this weekend.
After sending David Peterson to the mound for Thursday’s makeup game against the Toronto Blue Jays, the Cubs will throw out a pair of newcomers on Friday and Saturday. Kevin Gausman will get the ball on Friday, and Clay Holmes is expected to start on Saturday.
Chicago traded for both pitchers at this year’s trade deadline to boost its rotation for the stretch run. Gausman was acquired for two lower-ranked prospects in Ty Southisene (No. 13) and Brett Bateman (No. 21), and Holmes was part of a package deal that sent the right-hander and outfielder Tyrone Taylor in exchange for Jefferson Rojas (No. 2).
Gausman will hope to post better numbers with the Cubs down the stretch than he did with the Blue Jays in his first 23 starts. The 35-year-old veteran has a 4.38 ERA and a 1.288 WHIP across 127 ⅓ innings pitched this season, and has really struggled over the last few weeks. He has a 6.47 ERA over his last eight starts dating back to June 19.
But Gausman has a prime opportunity in front of him on his new team. Some positive regression should also head his way within the next few weeks since his expected ERA (3.95), FIP (3.50), and expected FIP (3.82) are all significantly lower than his actual ERA (4.38).
The new Cubs pitcher primarily leans on only three pitches. He throws his four-seam fastball 52% of the time, his splitter 38%, and his slider 10%. The key for Gausman is that splitter. When that pitch is working, he is one of the most dangerous pitchers in the game. This year, that pitch has an elite 39.8% whiff rate.
Following Gausman's Cubs debut on Friday, Holmes will make his Cubs debut on Saturday. Although the former Mets right-hander is currently on the injured list due to a fractured fibula, the expectation is that he will be activated off the IL to start this weekend.
Holmes is exactly the type of pitcher that the Cubs love. He’s an extreme groundball pitcher who doesn’t give up much contact in the air. His current 55.3% groundball rate ranks in the 95th percentile. That should play well in front of a defense that has three Gold Glove winners in Nico Hoerner, Dansby Swanson, and Alex Bregman.
The two-time All-Star has thrown the ball well in his limited innings pitched this year. He has a 2.39 ERA across 52 ⅔ innings pitched. These solid numbers come after Holmes finished with a 3.53 ERA in his first full season as a starter last year.
Although Holmes has missed most of this season due to a fractured fibula, he appears to be fully past that injury now. The Cubs right-hander made three rehab starts while with the Mets, which included throwing 5 ⅓ innings in his last rehab outing over the weekend.
Cubs fans will be able to get their first look at the team’s new trade deadline acquisitions this weekend against the Royals.
