The New York Mets are facing complications with Clay Holmes, who is attempting to transition from a longtime reliever role into a starting pitcher. Holmes, a right-hander, began this change in the 2025 season after eight years primarily pitching in relief. Despite the promising start earlier in the year, recent performances have raised questions about the success of this experiment.

Performance decline and mounting fatigue in the rotation

Currently, Holmes holds a 2-2 record with a 4.46 ERA over his last seven starts, a noticeable decline from his earlier 2.90 ERA during the season’s first three months. Overall, he has a 3.45 ERA in 22 starts, but deeper metrics such as a 1.32 WHIP and 4.15 FIP indicate struggles in limiting baserunners and preventing runs. This workload represents a significant increase for Holmes, who had never previously pitched more than 70 innings in a season before 2025. The extra innings, now totaling 117.1, appear to be taking a toll on his effectiveness, even with the addition of a new ‘kick change’ pitch introduced during spring training.

Impact on Mets’ bullpen and team strategy

The Mets invested $38 million over three years in Holmes to try him as a starter, understanding the adjustment would come with challenges. There was an implicit hope that if the starter role did not work out, Holmes would revert to the bullpen, where he had succeeded as a high-leverage reliever. However, the team continues to use him every fifth day in the rotation, suggesting a reluctance to move him back to the bullpen. Meanwhile, the bullpen itself has faced difficulties recently, despite receiving reinforcements, including two added on the day Holmes took a loss in San Diego’s 5-0 shutout over the Mets.

Rethinking the future of Holmes’ role with the Mets

While it may be difficult for the Mets to admit that the Clay Holmes Mets pitching experiment is not yielding the desired outcome, the evidence points to a need for reassessment. The veteran’s inability to consistently pitch deep into games has contributed to broader pitching concerns for the team. The question remains whether the Mets will continue to persist with this approach or decide to adjust Holmes’ role to better suit his strengths and the team’s overall needs.