Clay Holmes Garners Opening Day Start for Mets

On Friday, New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza named right-hander Clay Holmes as the teams starter on Opening Day. Holmes has made four big-league starts, all of them as a rookie with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2018. He shifted to the bullpen in 2019 with Pittsburgh, transitioning into an All-Star closer with the New York Yankees. Holmes has made 300 relief appearances since his last start.

“He earned it,” Mendoza said. “We like what we’re seeing. He really put himself in a really good position, showed up here early in camp, he was ahead of everyone.”

Clay Holmes to Make First Start Since 2018 on Opening Day

The Mets signed Holmes to a three-year, $38 million contract in the winter. In an ideal spring, the Opening Day nod likely would have gone to left-hander Sean Manaea, who emerged as the Mets ace last season and was re-signed over the winter. However, Manaea will start the season on the injured list with a right oblique strain.

Holmes, a two-time All-Star entering his seventh season in the majors, will make the transition from bullpen arm to full-time starter with the Mets this year. Last season with the Yankees, Holmes posted a 3.14 ERA in 67 appearances as a closer, saving 30 games despite blowing a league-high 13 saves. Still, the Mets saw potential and signed him as a starter to bolster the middle of their rotation.

This spring, Holmes has been impressive, throwing 9 2/3 scoreless innings with 13 strikeouts. Once known for his sinker-sweeper combination, Holmes has worked diligently to expand his pitch repertoire this offseason. He’s unveiled a new changeup, slider, and cutter to complement the 4-seam fastball he occasionally used with the Yankees.

With injuries to both Manaea and Frankie Montas, Holmes will now be tasked with a larger role in the Mets’ rotation. He’ll join Kodai Senga and a mix of Griffin Canning, Paul Blackburn, David Peterson, and Tylor Megill as they await the return of Manaea and Montas.