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Holmes gave up two runs on one hit and two walks over 3.2 innings in the Mets' Grapefruit League game against the Blue Jays on Monday. He struck out three.
The right-hander threw 57 pitches (30 strikes) as he prepares to represent Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. Holmes' one real mistake came on an 82.2 mph curveball to Kazuma Okamoto, which the Japanese slugger put over the fence in center field for a two-run home run. It's a pitch Holmes didn't throw at all in 2025. Once he returns to camp from the WBC, Holmes will be battling with Kodai Senga for the fifth spot in the Mets' Opening Day rotation, although with only two days off through the first three weeks of their schedule, it's possible the team will roll with a six-man rotation out of the gate.
Holmes (12-8) earned the win Saturday against the Marlins, allowing one hit and three walks in six scoreless innings. He struck out two.
With the Mets' backs against the wall in a heated wild-card race, Holmes came through with one of his best performances of the season. It was the first time all year that the right-hander fired at least six shutout innings, and he induced 11 groundouts on just 78 pitches. New York had to manage Holmes' workload down the stretch of his first full campaign as a starter, but it's still been a successful transition overall. He'll close the regular season with a 3.53 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 129:66 K:BB over a career-high 165.2 frames.
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Mets' Clay Holmes: Drawing start Saturday
Rotowire
Holmes will start Saturday's game against the Marlins, Laura Albanese of Newsday reports.
Holmes has been working in tandem with Sean Manaea throughout September, but both threw one inning of relief Wednesday, meaning Saturday's contest could be more of a total bullpen game. Holmes had pitched between 3.2 and 4.2 innings in his other four appearances in September.
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Mets' Clay Holmes: Likely to piggyback Manaea
Rotowire
Holmes will be available out of the bullpen for Sunday's game against the Nationals and could piggyback starter Sean Manaea, Colin Martin of SNY.tv reports.
The duo was deployed in tandem during Tuesday's 8-3 win over the Padres, with Holmes working the first four innings and Manaea covering the final five frames. Manaea ended up coming away with the victory, but since he'll be serving as the starter Sunday, Holmes might stand a better chance of qualifying for a win. The right-hander will be working out of the bullpen for the first time all season after his previous 30 appearances came in a starting role.
Holmes did not factor in the decision during Tuesday's win against San Diego. He allowed two runs on three hits and a walk while striking out two over four innings.
Holmes was relieved by Sean Manaea in the fifth inning in what was a scheduled move by the Mets to benefit both veteran arms. The only two runs against Holmes came via solo homers by Jackson Merrill and Jake Cronenworth in the second and third innings. Holmes threw a season-low 53 pitches Tuesday, as he continues to show signs of fatigue in his first year as a full-time MLB starter. He posted a 2.99 ERA through his first 17 starts but has since produced a 4.96 ERA over his last 13 outings. That's resulted in a 3.77 season ERA with a 124:63 K:BB over 155 innings. Holmes is currently slated for a home matchup with Washington this weekend.
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Mets' Clay Holmes: Set to be piggybacked Tuesday
Rotowire
Holmes is scheduled to start Tuesday's game against the Padres at Citi Field but will be piggybacked by Sean Manaea, MLB.com reports. "I think it depends what kind of lineup we get and where we're at in the game," Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said, when asked how extensively Holmes and Manaea will be used Tuesday. "That's the plan, but we've got to be able to make adjustments and be flexible. We've just got to see what we've got there."
Manaea's transition to the bullpen comes after he posted a 7.71 ERA and 1.44 WHIP in spite of an excellent 42:6 K:BB in 32.2 innings over his seven starts dating back to the beginning of August, and the Mets are hoping that the role change will help the southpaw generate better results. The arrangement could also prove beneficial for Holmes, who owns a 4.81 ERA and 1.46 WHIP since the beginning of August and may be wearing down during his first season in the big leagues as a full-time starter. Though the pairing of Holmes and Manaea could enhance the ratios of both pitchers while they take on lighter workloads than they would as traditional starters, Holmes may struggle to reach the five innings he would need to hit to qualify for a win. The Mets will likely reassess their rotation plans following Tuesday's game, but if the Holmes/Manaea tandem fares well, the two could be deployed in a piggyback setup once again Sunday versus the Nationals.
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