Clay Holmes is set to rejoin the Chicago Cubs after being sidelined due to injury. Acquired at the trade deadline, Holmes will return from the 60-day injured list this weekend in Kansas City. He voiced a preference for his next outing to be with the Cubs rather than another rehab start, and manager Craig Counsell confirmed this plan for the 33-year-old.

Holmes sustained a right fibula fracture in mid-May. In his recent rehab outing, he reached 73 pitches. While Kevin Gausman will not debut against the Toronto Blue Jays, he’s lined up to pitch during the Royals series. The pitching schedule may place Gausman on Friday and Holmes on Saturday in Kansas City.

Holmes expressed enthusiasm about joining the Cubs. He praised the team’s defensive capabilities, aligning with his strengths as a sinker-ball pitcher. Holmes stated, “The Cubs have got really good defense…So, a guy like me…to be able to trust the defense like that…is a freeing thing.”

With Holmes back, the Cubs face rotation decisions. Though Counsell may occasionally use a six-man rotation, he generally prefers not to. Holmes, known for his impressive relief work with the Yankees, adds flexibility. He welcomes any role, emphasizing teamwork and contributing to the team’s playoff pursuit.

Tyrone Taylor will have opportunities in left field against left-handed pitchers. Ian Happ’s performance against left-handers has dipped, leading Counsell to give him days off during tough matchups. Taylor debuted in left field against the Dodgers, highlighted by a .301/.311/.589 slash line versus southpaws.

Kevin Alcántara was optioned to Triple-A following a memorable debut home run against the Dodgers. Despite strong performance, his return was planned as temporary due to roster adjustments. Manager Counsell explained the roster decisions, praising Alcántara’s efforts and potential for future opportunities.