Cubs news: Clay Holmes loving offense after bonkers run support vs. Brewers

Clay Holmes must be loving life after the Chicago Cubs acquired him in a trade from the New York Mets. Going from a team that's been underperforming throughout 2026 to one that has a legitimate shot at winning a World Series title has to be reinvigorating, and it has to do wonders for Holmes' confidence to see the Cubs' offense show up every single night.

On Monday, the Cubs popped off for 17 runs in a 17-3 blowout of the Milwaukee Brewers — with the team hitting nine home runs in a single game, breaking their previous franchise record. Chicago didn't even need Holmes to be perfect from the mound, but he was still brilliant, holding the Brewers scoreless in six innings of work, allowing just five hits and two walks while striking out eight.

The Cubs' offense has been unreal in August; they scored 178 total runs this past calendar month, leading MLB, and they hit a league-best 62 home runs on their way to doing so — hitting 20 more long balls than the second-best team (the Cincinnati Reds hit 42 dingers in August). Suffice to say, the morale is quite high right now in the Cubs locker room, and Holmes is reaping the rewards of their high-octane offense as well.

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"It's an impressive group … tonight they broke an all-time record for homers in a month … the energy it takes to show up every day and play defense the way they do. They're slugging the ball … It's August and they're showing up with the same energy. It's not an easy thing to do," Holmes said in his postgame presser, via Marquee Sports Network on X.

Everyone is showing up for the Cubs. Holmes has an ERA of 1.55 in five starts (29.0 innings) for the Cubs since arriving at the deadline. This team needed excellent pitching to complement its high-powered offense, and this is the way they need Holmes to pitch from here on out if they were to make it deep into the postseason.