How Mets' Clay Holmes assesses first half after transition to starter
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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Clay Holmes knew his ceiling was five innings on Sunday, so length wasn't a focal point of his final start before the All-Star break.
The right-hander had what could be described as a typical Holmes performance, allowing two earned runs over five innings in the Mets' 3-2 loss to the Royals at Kauffman Stadium.
Sean Manaea, as was planned by manager Carlos Mendoza, piggybacked Holmes and pitched into the ninth before allowing a walk-off RBI single to Nick Loftin.
Holmes had a rough second inning in which he allowed his only runs on two doubles and a hit batter but otherwise was efficient. It helped that he got Bobby Witt Jr. to hit into two double plays.
Clay Holmes pitches during the Mets-Royals game on July 13, 20525.
AP
'It was nice to get some ground balls and force some contact,' Holmes said. 'With runners on I wasn't able to make a pitch and later on in the game it ended up costing us, but overall I was able to get the ball on the ground … it's kind of who I am.'
The pitch Holmes didn't execute was a changeup on which John Rave stroked a two-run double.
Holmes, who has transitioned to starting this season after spending most of his career as a reliever, said he's in a good position headed into the All-Star break.
Clay Holmes pitches during the Mets-Royals game on July 13, 20525.
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
'There has been a lot of growth and I think I have got enough of a sample size now where you can really make some good assessments of what really I have been good at and what's kind of been hindering me a little bit,' Holmes said. 'As long as I get ground balls and really not beating myself, I kind of like where I'm at and where things are going.'
Holmes, who arrived on a three-year contract worth $38 million, has pitched to a 3.31 ERA and logged 103 ¹/₃ innings over his 19 starts this season.
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His previous career high was 70 innings pitched in 2021.
'We will continue to monitor it and watch him closely,' Mendoza said. 'He's already way exceeded his career [high] innings, but he continues to feel good physically. He's one of those where we will continue to have that conversation with him, but we're counting on him.'
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