Holmes (5-3) took the loss Tuesday, giving up two runs on four hits and three walks over six innings as the Mets fell 2-0 to the Red Sox. He struck out five.
For the second straight outing, Holmes served up multiple homers -- this time solo shots to Carlos Narvaez and Rafael Devers in the fifth inning -- and that was all the offense Boston needed. The right-hander still delivered his fourth quality start in his last six trips to the mound, a stretch in which he's posted a 2.83 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 25:9 K:BB over 35 innings. Holmes will try to get back in the win column in his next start, which is scheduled to come at home early next week against the White Sox.
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Mets' Clay Holmes: Gives up two homers in loss
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Holmes (5-2) took the loss against the Pirates on Wednesday, allowing four runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out four across six innings.
Holmes faced the minimum number of batters in three of six innings pitched. However, he gave up two-run homers to Matt Gorski and Jared Triolo in the second and fifth frames, respectively, and Holmes wasn't able to escape the loss as the Mets' offense couldn't muster up any runs. It was just the second time this season that Holmes gave up more than three runs, which raised his ERA to 3.14 across 48.2 innings. His next start is slated next week at Fenway Park against the Red Sox.
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Mets' Clay Holmes: Sharp in fifth win
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Holmes (5-1) picked up the win in Friday's 7-2 victory over the Cubs, allowing one run on three hits and three walks over six innings. He struck out five.
The 32-year-old right-hander continues to put together a breakout campaign in a starting role. Holmes has delivered three quality starts in his last four outings, and he's given up more than three runs only once in eight trips to the mound. He'll take a 2.74 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 44:16 K:BB through 42.2 innings into his next start, which is scheduled to come at home next week against the Pirates.
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Mets' Clay Holmes: Wins fourth straight decision
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Holmes (4-1) picked up the win Friday, giving up three runs on eight hits over six innings in a 9-3 victory over the Cardinals. He struck out three without walking a batter.
The right-hander needed 92 pitches (63 strikes) to deliver his second quality start of the season, and his fourth win in his last five outings. Holmes' transition to a starting role this year has gone without a hitch, and through 36.2 innings he's posted a 2.95 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 39:13 K:BB. He'll look to keep rolling in his next trip to the mound, which lines up to come at home next weekend against the Cubs.
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Mets' Clay Holmes: Tosses five scoreless innings
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Holmes (3-1) earned the win against the Nationals on Saturday, allowing four hits while striking out two over five scoreless frames. He did not issue a walk.
Despite generating just five whiffs and seven first-pitch strikes on 70 pitches (44), Holmes limited the Nationals to four baserunners and retired nine of the final 10 batters he faced. He has yielded one earned run or less in four of his six starts this season, and his 36 strikeouts is 10th among qualified starters in the National League. Holmes has a 2.64 ERA and 1.27 WHIP over 30.2 innings this season and is lined up to face the Diamondbacks at home next week.
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Mets' Clay Holmes: Tosses six strong versus St. Louis
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Holmes pitched six innings, giving up one run on four hits and two walks while striking out six in Sunday's 7-4 win over the Cardinals. He did not factor into the decision.
Holmes tossed five scoreless frames before running into a little trouble in the top of the sixth inning, surrendering the only run on his line on a one-out RBI groundout by Alec Burleson. The right-hander has now given up just two runs over 11 innings in his last two starts after the Marlins tagged him for four runs over 5.1 frames April 8. Holmes will carry a 3.16 ERA and 1.36 WHIP into his next projected start Saturday on the road versus the Nationals.
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Mets' Clay Holmes: Five strong innings in second win
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Holmes (2-1) picked up the win Monday against the Twins, allowing one run on two hits and two walks in five innings. He struck out eight.
The hard-throwing right-hander got off to an impressive start Monday, punching out the side in the first inning, and it wasn't until the fifth frame where Holmes lost his control a bit. Christian Vazquez scratched Minnesota's only run of the game across on a sacrifice fly, which came after a hit-by-pitch, two free passes and a pair of wild pitches. Holmes' transition into a starting role has yielded inconsistent results, as he'll take a 3.66 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 28:11 K:BB through 19.2 innings (four starts) into his next scheduled start at home against the Cardinals over the weekend.
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Mets' Clay Holmes: Earns first win of 2025
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Holmes (1-1) came away with the win against the Marlins on Tuesday. He gave up four runs on five hits and three walks while striking out 10 across 5.1 innings.
Holmes got off to a rough start by allowing two runs in the first inning, but he was nearly flawless over the next four frames, striking out nine batters over that span. He was tagged for two more runs in the sixth, but the Mets were able to generate enough offense for Holmes to log his first win of the 2025 campaign. In his first three starts of 2025, Holmes has a 4.30 ERA, 1.70 WHIP and 20:9 K:BB across 14.2 innings. His next start is tentatively slated for next week on the road against the Twins.
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Mets' Clay Holmes: Improves control in no-decision
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Holmes didn't factor into the decision after allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits and two walks in 4.2 innings Wednesday against Miami. He struck out six.
After struggling with his control a bit Opening Day against Houston, Holmes did a better job of limiting the traffic Wednesday. Matt Mervis scratched a run across on a sacrifice fly in the third inning, and Otto Lopez reached on a fielder's choice later in the frame to bring in an unearned run following an error. Holmes is slated to face these same Marlins in a favorable matchup at home early next week, and he'll be looking to reach the 90-pitch threshold for the first time this season.
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Mets' Clay Holmes: Takes loss on Opening Day
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Holmes (0-1) came away with the loss against the Astros on Thursday after giving up three runs (two earned) on five hits and four walks over 4.2 innings. He struck out four.
Holmes entered Opening Day on the heels of a strong spring, during which he posted a 0.93 ERA and 23:8 K:BB across 19.1 Grapefruit League innings. Thursday was his first Opening Day start and his first MLB start period since his rookie year in 2019. Holmes was able to limit the damage despite a lot of traffic, but he couldn't avoid the loss since New York managed just one run. The right-hander will look to display better control in his next start, which tentatively lines up for next week in Miami.
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Mets' Clay Holmes: Fans eight in final spring start
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Holmes allowed two hits and three walks over 5.1 scoreless innings in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals. He struck out eight.
The Mets' Opening Day starter wrapped up his spring with a very impressive outing, albeit against a St. Louis lineup that had few big-league regulars in it, as he built up to 88 pitches (53 strikes). Holmes posted a 0.93 ERA and 23:8 K:BB through 19.1 Grapefruit League innings, and he looks ready to handle his conversion from the relief role he's filled for nearly his entire big-league career.
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Mets' Clay Holmes: Garners Opening Day start
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Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Friday that Holmes will start Opening Day in Houston, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.
He might not have been the choice if the Mets' rotation was fully healthy, but Holmes has earned the nod with a dominant spring that's seen him post a 13:4 K:BB over 9.2 scoreless innings. Holmes is making the move from bullpen to rotation this season after being used exclusively as a reliever since 2019.
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Mets' Clay Holmes: Dominant against Nats
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Holmes struck out eight over 3.2 scoreless innings in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals. He gave up one hit and walked three.
The right-hander built up to 67 pitches (38 strikes) and was absolutely dominant against a Washington lineup that featured CJ Abrams, James Wood, Nathaniel Lowe and other likely Opening Day starters. Holmes has worked to expand his pitch mix this spring as he transitions from closing to a rotation job, and so far the results have been impressive as he has a 13:4 K:BB through 9.2 spring innings with a 0.00 ERA.
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Mets' Clay Holmes: Will start spring opener
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Holmes will be on the mound for the Mets' Grapefruit League opener Saturday against the Astros, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
The 31-year-old right-hander hasn't started a big-league game since 2018, making 195 relief appearances over the last three seasons while serving primarily as a closer for the Yankees, but Holmes is attempting to convert to the rotation this season after signing a three-year, $38 million deal with the Mets in December. It's not clear what kind of workload he'll handle in his spring debut, but Holmes projects to slot third in the Mets' rotation to begin the campaign behind Kodai Senga and Sean Manaea.
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Mets' Clay Holmes: Aiming for 160-plus innings in 2025
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Holmes said Tuesday that he wants to throw at least 160 innings in 2025, Metsmerized Online reports.
Whether the Mets share the same goal is not clear. Holmes is making the move from the bullpen to the rotation in 2025 after spending each of the last six seasons exclusively pitching in relief. The most innings the 31-year-old has ever thrown in a season came back in 2016, when he tossed 136.1 frames with Double-A Altoona in the Pirates organization. Holmes threw 75 innings between the regular and postseason with the Yankees in 2024.
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Mets' Clay Holmes: Headed to Queens
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Holmes signed a three-year, $38 million contract with the Mets on Friday, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.
After spending three-plus seasons with the Yankees, Holmes won't have to travel far to join his new squad. The 31-year-old turned in a 3.14 ERA and 1.30 WHIP over 63 innings in the regular season and logged a career-high 30 saves, though he also led the majors with 13 blown saves. With Edwin Diaz locked in as the closer in Queens, the Mets will attempt to convert Holmes into a starter, per Sherman. However, keeping the right-hander in the bullpen as New York's setup man is still on the table if his move into the rotation doesn't work out.
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Yankees' Clay Holmes: Takes 13th blown save
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Holmes was charged with a blown save in Wednesday's extra-inning win over Seattle, allowing a solo home run over two-thirds of an inning while striking out one.
Holmes took the mound with two outs in the bottom of the seventh and walked the first batter he faced before getting Cal Raleigh to fly out to left field for the final out. The right-hander returned for the eighth and got Randy Arozarena to go down swinging for the first out but was then taken deep by Justin Turner as Seattle tied the game at 1-1. Holmes would not complete the inning after being charged with his league-leading 13th blown save of the campaign, and he's now surrendered six runs over seven relief appearances this month (span of five innings). He's also given up at least one hit in five of his last seven outings.
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Yankees' Clay Holmes: Fewer save chances coming
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Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday the team will get "creative" with the closer role going forward, which could still include Holmes depending on matchups, Jack Curry of YES Network reports.
Boone avoided explicitly saying that Holmes has been demoted from the closer role, but that's the clear indication even if the right-hander is still somewhat involved. The 31-year-old surrendered a grand slam Tuesday against Texas as he blew his league-leading 11th save of the season, which finally prompted the Yankees to change their approach. Holmes has been fairly effective overall with a 3.27 ERA across 55 innings, but he's allowed a lot of traffic with a 1.33 WHIP and 3.1 BB/9. Boone didn't name any alternative relievers, but Mark Leiter, Luke Weaver and Tommy Kahnle could all be in the mix for saves.
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Yankees' Clay Holmes: Melts down Tuesday
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Holmes (2-5) took the loss and a blown save in Tuesday's 7-4 loss to the Rangers, allowing four runs on two hits and two walks over one-third of an inning.
Holmes threw just 12 of 25 pitches for strikes. He loaded the bases and then gave up a walk-off grand slam to Wyatt Langford to complete the Yankees' collapse. Holmes has now blown five saves in 13 chances since the All-Star break, though he had converted three in a row while not allowing a run over his previous five appearances (4.2 innings) entering Tuesday. For the season, Holmes is 29-for-40 in save chances with a 3.27 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 60:19 K:BB through 55 innings. His struggles in August didn't cost him the closer role, but Mark Leiter and Luke Weaver would be most likely to pick up any ancillary saves if Holmes' share of the ninth inning decreases.
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Yankees' Clay Holmes: Secures 29th save
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Holmes earned the save in Friday's 6-3 victory over St. Louis, pitching a scoreless inning with no strikeouts.
The 31-year-old reliever made quick work of the Cardinals in the ninth, working around an inning-opening error by Anthony Volpe to retire the side on just eight pitches. Despite suffering two blown saves in August, he has pitched to a 1.93 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 15:4 K:BB with seven saves across 9.1 innings this month. He continues to lead MLB in blown saves (10), but his 29 saves puts him in the top five.
