Cubs BCB After Dark: Which starter would you rather . . .?

Q: What are the Cubs' options for starting pitching in 2026?

The Cubs are considering Freddy Peralta, Clay Holmes, and Robbie Ray as potential starting pitching options.

Q: How has Robbie Ray performed in the 2026 season?

Robbie Ray has posted a 2.76 ERA and struck out 47 batters in 42.1 innings during the 2026 season.

Q: What is Clay Holmes' pitching style and performance this year?

Clay Holmes relies on a sinker/slider/change repertoire, has a 1.86 ERA over 48.1 innings, and induces a high ground ball rate of 57.2 percent.

Q: Why are the Cubs interested in Freddy Peralta?

Freddy Peralta has a history with Cubs manager Craig Counsell and is seen as a familiar option for the Cubs' pitching needs.

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 8: Robbie Ray #38 of the San Francisco Giants pitches at Oracle Park on May 8, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Andy Kuno/San Francisco Giants/Getty Images) | Getty Images It’s Tuesday here at *BCB After Dark: the grooviest gathering of night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad.* Come on in and sit with us. There’s no cover charge. The dress code is casual. There are still a few tables available. The hostess will seat you now. Bring your own beverage. *BCB After Dark* is the place for you to talk baseball, music, movies, or anything else you need to get off your chest, as long as it is within the rules of the site. The late-nighters are encouraged to get the party started, but everyone else is invited to join in as you wake up the next morning and into the afternoon. Last night I asked you how big a role did you think Ryan Rolison would play on the 2026 Cubs. You’re mostly optimistic as 58 percent of you think he’ll be in the Cubs bullpen all (or almost all) season. Another 39 percent think he’ll be shuttling back and forth between Iowa and Chicago. On Tuesdays I don’t do any movie stuff, but I’m sure I can find the time for some music for us. Bless the great Ron Carter. The legendary bassist has a new album coming out next month at the age of 89. It’s called *Duets*, a collaboration with guitarist Yotam Silberstein. This is a cut from the upcoming album entitled “Blues for Brother Malone,” a tribute to jazz guitarist Russell Malone who died in 2024 at the too-young age of 60. Malone was a friend to both Carter and Silberstein. Welcome back to those of you who skip the music. It’s no secret to anyone that the Cubs are searching for starting pitching after the injuries to and as well as the setbacks in the recovery of . I suspect that it will be a major topic of conversation around here until the end of July. The one name that has been closely connected to the Cubs is , and Peralta played for manager Craig Counsell for six seasons in , so there is familiarity there. Peralta has made noise about wanting to stay in New York, but terrible start to the season and his upcoming free agency means that decision is likely out of his hands. Still, there are other starting pitching options on the trade market for the Cubs to pursue. Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma list (sub. req) and I want to examine two in particular that I want to consider tonight. The first is Peralta’s Mets teammate and the other one is San Francisco Giants pitcher Robbie Ray. Both Holmes and Ray are free agents at the end of 2026, so both of them would be pure rentals. Ray, according to Mooney and Sharma, is someone the Cubs have wanted for years and it’s not hard to understand why. The left-handers’ biggest weapon is his hard slider, which is his primary out-pitch. But his 93-94 mile per hour fastball also has good movement and in recent years he’s added a changeup, which is a real weapon against right-handed hitters. Ray won the American League Cy Young in 2021 and while he’s suffered through injuries since then, he’s been healthy this year and last. Ray was an All-Star last season and he’s been just as good this year. With the Giants, he’s posted a 2.76 ERA and has struck out 47 batters in 42.1 innings. He is a bit of a flyball pitcher and he has benefitted from how hard it is to hit a home run at Oracle Park the past few seasons. But we should note that Wrigley Field has played as a pitchers park the past few seasons, even if most of us are conditioned to think of it as a home-run hitters paradise. Holmes is a different type of pitcher without the same kind of track record as Ray (although he is a two-time All-Star from his time with the ), but he’s arguably been the better pitcher this year. Holmes had made eight starts so far this year and has a 1.86 ERA over 48.1 innings. The right-handed Holmes almost never throws a traditional four-seam fastball, instead relying on a sinker/slider/change repertoire that induces a ton of ground balls. Holmes strikes out a lot fewer batters than Ray with a 19.3 percent strikeout rate as compared to Ray’s 26.3. But he also walks fewer (8.3 percent to 10) and boy, does he get the ground balls. His groundball rate is 57.2 percent, which is actually down from his career averages. Holmes seems like the kind of pitcher that you want in front of the Cubs stellar infield defense. Now there’s no guarantee that either pitcher will be available in trade. The Mets have said they’re going to wait until June to see if they can snap out of their disappointing season before they decide whether or not they want to sell. The Giants are already making moves, sending catcher to the Guardians, but that was likely more a way of getting the black hole of Bailey’s bat out of the Giants offensively-challenged lineup than it was the start of a fire sale. Still, I strongly suspect that both the Giants and the Mets will be selling by the time trade season comes along. I have no idea how much either one will cost in terms of prospects, but I suspect that it will be roughly even. So whom the Cubs get might be dependent on whether the Giants or the Mets like the Cubs farm system more. And of course, there will be other pitchers available as well. But if the Cubs were offered either Ray or Holmes for the same package, which one would you take? Which player would be the better “get” for the rest of the season? Which one would make you happier? Thank you so very much for stopping by. We hope we made your night a little better. Please get home safely. Recycle any cans and bottles. Tip your waitstaff. And join us again tomorrow night for more *BCB After Dark.*