Debut dates revealed for newly acquired Cubs pitchers

Kevin Gausman. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Debut dates revealed for newly acquired Cubs pitchers

By Andrew Wright | Last updated Aug 5, 2026 1:06 PM ET

The Chicago Cubs made multiple big splashes ahead of the 2026 MLB trade deadline.

Those splashes included acquiring right-handed pitchers Kevin Gausman from the Toronto Blue Jays and Clay Holmes from the New York Mets.

Speculation surrounding when those two will take the mound for the first time as members of the organization were confirmed on Wednesday afternoon.

Kevin Gausman, Clay Holmes will both start in Kansas City

The Cubs begin a three-game series against the Kansas City Royals on Friday and that series will see the debuts for both Gausman and Holmes.

Gausman will make his Cubs debut on Friday night. He was roughed up last season by what will be a very similar Royals lineup, allowing five runs on six hits.

Holmes' Chicago debut will come just one day later on Saturday evening. He too, faced Kansas City last season and fared much better than Gausman, allowing just two runs across five innings.

If everything goes well coming out of today’s bullpen, the plan is for Clay Holmes will come off the IL and make his Cubs debut Saturday in KC, Counsell said. https://t.co/lubOp0ik0n
— Meghan Montemurro (@MegMontemurro) August 5, 2026

Are the Cubs trade deadline moves enough to compete?

Along with Gausman and Holmes, Chicago also acquired right-handed reliever Ryan Zeferjahn and outfielder Tyrone Taylor.

Zeferjahn and Taylor each made their team debuts on Tuesday, with Zeferjahn throwing one scoreless inning, while Taylor went 0-for-3 at the plate.

Those four players are all expected to contribute to the Cubs pursuit of not only knocking off the mighty Los Angeles Dodgers but advancing past the NLDS for the first time since 2017.

Andrew Wright

Andrew "Dew" Wright graduated from Charleston Southern University with a degree in Communication Studies. He is a lifelong Chicago Cubs and Washington Commanders fan.

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