Clay Holmes‘ first major league start since 2018 will come on a big stage for the Mets.
On Friday, manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters that Holmes will start the team’s Opening Day bout with the Houston Astros on March 27 at Dalkin Park.
“He earned it,” Mendoza said. “We like what we’re seeing. I know it’s a small sample size here, but it’s very encouraging. He really put himself in a really good position, showed up here early in camp. He was ahead of everyone … the way he’s looked so far, making that transition, and we’re comfortable with him going on Opening Day.”
The 31-year-old right-hander spent parts of four seasons primarily working out of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ bullpen to open his big league career before a trade sent him to the New York Yankees at the 2021 deadline. He earned All-Star nods in 2022 and 2024 while there, logging 74 saves and a 2.69 ERA across 220 appearances totaling 217 2/3 innings.
Holmes came across town to the Mets this offseason on a three-year deal worth $38 million with the understanding that he’d be stretched out and slot into the starting rotation.
He has yet to allow an earned run over three outings and 9 2/3 frames this spring while notching 13 strikeouts and allowing four walks.
