Clay

Holmes

Holmes dealt with plenty of traffic on the basepaths, handing out five walks while only notching four strikeouts. It was his second meltdown in his last three starts after giving up a season-high eight runs to the Marlins back on September 6. It’s extremely challenging for fantasy managers to trust Holmes when he wraps up the regular season with a home matchup against those same Marlins on Thursday.

The runs all came on Ryan O’Hearn’s homer in the sixth. Holmes continued on afterwards and loaded the bases before being replaced by Jacob Webb. Fortunately, Webb stranded the runners, though those runs would have been unearned as a result of Nico Hoerner’s error early in the inning. Holmes struck out six and walked four. He’ll pitch in Cincinnati next weekend, making him a decent option in mixed leagues.

Holmes gave up six hits, walked three and struck out two. He fell to 6-7 with the loss. Holmes had been excellent in his first five starts with the Cubs with a 1.55 ERA, so he now has a 2.83 ERA on the year. Holmes is lined up to face the Pirates at home next weekend, where he’ll look to bounce back against the team that drafted him in the ninth round of the 2011 MLB Draft.

Holmes gave up five hits, walked two and struck out eight. He improved to 6-6 with the win. Holmes dominated the Brewers while the Cubs scored nine runs while he was still in the game, leading to an easy victory. Holmes allowed four runs in his first start with the Cubs, but has since allowed only one earned run in 25 innings (0.36 ERA) over his last four starts. He has a 2.09 ERA this year. Holmes is lined up to face the Marlins on the road this weekend.

It’s another impressive start for Holmes, who scuffled in his debut with the Cubs and has been outstanding since that effort. He allowed just two hits — both singles — and he struck out five against two walks. He’s allowed just one run over his last three starts over 19 innings, and that’s lowered his ERA to a 2.26 on the season. Holmes has basically the perfect defense playing behind him, and he’s taken advantage of it thus far. He’ll have a tough test Monday when he faces the Brewers.

Holmes didn’t have his best velocity today and wound up with just one strikeout, but he was again effective. After struggling some in his first start back from a fractured fibula, he’s allowed one run and seven hits over 12 innings in his last two starts. His next start will come against a Diamondbacks team that nearly traded for him earlier this month.

He allowed just one hit -- a poke from Jose Fermín in the sixth -- and left after hitting 80 pitches while walking Jordan Walker. Holmes is lined up for a nice start in Seattle next week. It looks like he’ll be a useful 12-team starter down the stretch despite the low strikeout rate.

In his first start in nearly three months since suffering a fractured fibula, Holmes allowed six hits, walked two and struck out one in two trips around the Royals order. Jac Caglianone got to him both times, homering in the first and then doubling and scoring in the third. Holmes did at least do a pretty good job of getting most of the rest of the Royals to hit the ball on the ground. He might have another shaky start or two this month, but he’ll probably be somewhat useful in mixed leagues the rest of the way. He’ll face the Cardinals next.

After nearly three months off, Holmes will make his return and his Cubs debut in a start tonight against the Royals.

Chicago manager Craig Counsell confirmed that Holmes will not require any additional minor league rehab starts. The tandem of trade deadline acquisitions will get the ball later this week when the Cubs head to Kansas City for a three-game series that gets underway on Friday.