En route to a 4-0 loss to the City-less Athletics, Mets’ starter Clay Holmes left the game in the sixth inning with ‘left hamstring tightness.’ Holmes expressed optimism after the game that he could make his next scheduled start, calling the injury “nothing major.” Manager Carlos Mendoza said that how Holmes feels today will determine their course of action going forward.
Even with last night’s abbreviated start, Holmes has looked quite good in his second year as a starer. Over 18 innings thrown, he’s allowed just three earned runs on 12 hits striking out 12 and walking eight. While his 3.87 FIP is showing that his 1.50 ERA might be a bit of a fluke, Holmes has been the third most effective Mets’ starter thus far after Nolan McLean and Kodai Senga.
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The only blemish against Holmes in last night’s start was a Shea Langeliers RBI single in the third inning. Holmes was pulled in the top of the sixth with one out after 81 pitches.
The Mets have been bit by the injury bug already this season, with Juan Soto currently on the Injured List with a calf injury and Jorge Polanco missing time with a hamstring injury.
If Holmes does go on the IL, the Mets will have an interesting decision to make. With Sean Manaea and last night’s goat Tobias Myers both acting as long men right now, one of them would likely be called upon to start. However, Manaea’s diminished velocity and walk rate are huge red flags, and the Mets may not want to put him in that role. Christian Scott and Jonah Tong are both available from Triple-A, but the Mets likely wouldn’t want to disrupt their progress for a spot start or two. Hopefully, this is a moot point and Holmes makes his next scheduled start.
Senga takes the hill for the Mets this afternoon against Jacob Lopez for the A’s.