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.
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Yankees' Clay Holmes: Picks up 28th save
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Holmes threw a perfect ninth inning to earn the save against the Nationals on Monday.
Holmes entered the game with a 5-2 lead and pitched a 1-2-3 frame against the Nationals. Holmes leads MLB with 10 blown saves, but he also ranks among the top five in the league with 28 saves. The 31-year-old has a 2.72 ERA and 1.26 WHIP over 53 innings this season.
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Yankees' Clay Holmes: Earns 27th save
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Holmes allowed a walk and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save against the Rockies on Friday.
Holmes was asked to protect a 3-0 lead in the ninth frame and did so on 19 pitches. The 31-year-old rebounded from a blown save in his last chance Sunday and has registered six scoreless outings in eight August appearances. On the season, he has 27 saves to go along with a 2.77 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 60:16 K:BB across 52 innings.
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Yankees' Clay Holmes: Blows save Sunday
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Holmes was charged with a blown save in Sunday's loss to the Tigers, allowing one run on two hits while striking out three over an inning.
Holmes entered trying to preserve a 1-0 lead and was unable to do so. He allowed a one-out double to Colt Keith, who would come around to score on a base-hit from Jace Jung to send the game into extras. Since July 5, Holmes has six blown saves to his seven saves, and he leads all of baseball with 10 blown saves this season. On a positive note, he does have multiple strikeouts in each of his last four appearances and is still tied for sixth in baseball with 26 saves. For the year, Holmes owns a 2.88 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 56:14 K:BB in 50 innings.
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Yankees' Clay Holmes: Notches 26th save
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Holmes earned the save in Friday's 3-0 win over the Tigers, striking out two in a perfect ninth inning.
Holmes has now converted five of his last six save chances, allowing just one run on two hits while striking out eight in that span (5.1 innings). The right-hander is up to 26 saves on the year with a 2.76 ERA, 1.29. WHIP and 53:14 K:BB across 49 innings.
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Yankees' Clay Holmes: Resting Monday
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Holmes won't be available to pitch Monday against the White Sox for rest purposes, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
Holmes was forced to battle to secure a four-out save during Sunday's 8-7 victory over the Rangers, firing 24 of 45 pitches for strikes. Skipper Aaron Boone failed to disclose who he would deploy in a save situation Monday, only that Holmes would be shut down for the day following a heavy workload.
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Yankees' Clay Holmes: Claims save No. 24
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Holmes earned a save against the Angels in the first game of a doubleheader Wednesday, striking out two batters in a perfect inning of work.
Holmes had little trouble protecting a three-run, ninth-inning lead, retiring the side in order on 13 pitches. The right-hander had blown four of his previous six save chances coming in, though he had allowed just two earned runs over 7.1 frames during that span. Holmes leads the majors with nine blown saves on the campaign, but his numbers have been otherwise acceptable, as he has a 2.70 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 49:12 K:BB across 46.2 innings.
