Clay Holmes Struggles in Mets’ Loss to Marlins
Clay Holmes followed one of his better performances with a challenging outing against the Marlins. He pitched five innings, giving up four runs—two earned—in the Mets’ 7-4 loss at Citi Field on Thursday night.
A personal error, when he misplayed a throw from Pete Alonso in the first inning, contributed to two unearned runs. This pattern seems to reflect Holmes’ performance lately—not terrible, but not quite effective enough to last deep into games.
His previous start, where he pitched 6⅓ innings and allowed just two runs in a win against the Braves, now feels like an exception rather than the rule.
“We didn’t play behind him,” coach Carlos Mendoza noted. “He didn’t cover that ball. He had the grounder but struggled with the count.” While Holmes didn’t concede many hard-hit balls, the Marlins scored their initial run via two infield hits and a sacrifice fly, with subsequent runs resulting from his error and a few singles.
This situation led to an escalating pitch count, which has been a recurring issue for him this season. It ultimately placed extra pressure on the bullpen, which allowed three runs in total—none of them earned—but still faltered under the strain.
“I was prepared to come in and be part of the team,” Holmes explained. “I aimed to get some ground balls, but it seems I still found ways to give up runs. That third error really cost us.”
As his performances lately have become somewhat predictable, many are speculating whether it’s time to transition him back into a bullpen role. He has already surpassed his career-high in innings pitched this season.
Though the Mets haven’t confirmed any changes, they have managed to rely on rookie Nolan McLean for three starts, and Jonah Tong may make his MLB debut on Friday.
If Tong can hold his own, it could reshape the Mets’ rotation, which might include moving Holmes to a more suitable role with the likes of David Peterson, Kodai Senga, Shawn Mania, and McLean.
“This season has its long stretches for everyone,” Holmes said. “Overall, I feel good. We’re at a point where making a pitch is crucial.” However, performances like Thursday’s aren’t conducive to winning.
And, unfortunately, they seem to align with Holmes’ recent norms.
