FLUSHING — In a rotation already battered by inconsistency and injury, the health of Clay Holmes has become the most scrutinized storyline in Queens. Following his early exit from Friday night’s series opener due to “hamstring tightness,” the Mets’ medical staff has been working overtime to evaluate the right-hander. However, the news from the trainer’s room on Sunday morning was surprisingly upbeat: Holmes believes he has “checked all the boxes” and is fully optimistic about making his next scheduled start.
The “Hamstring Scare” occurred in the top of the fifth inning on Friday when Holmes appeared to wince after delivering a 96-mph sinker to Sacramento’s Lawrence Butler. After a brief mound visit from Carlos Mendoza and the training staff, Holmes was removed as a “precautionary measure,” sending the Mets’ social media into a tailspin.
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“It was just a little grab,” Holmes explained on Sunday. “In this weather, everything is a little tighter than usual. I didn’t want to push it and turn a two-day issue into a two-month issue. We did some tests yesterday, I played catch this morning, and everything feels strong. I’m not worried about the next one.”
Holmes’ optimism is a vital cooling agent for a Mets front office that is currently managing a “pitching crisis.” With Kodai Senga coming off a seven-run shellacking and David Peterson currently sporting an ERA over 6.00, the Mets cannot afford to lose the stability that Holmes provides. Since being acquired, Holmes has been the quintessential “pro’s pro,” using his heavy sinker to induce double plays and keep the Mets in games when the offense is quiet.
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The team has officially listed him as “day-to-day,” and while they haven’t ruled out a 10-day IL stint to be safe, the current plan is for Holmes to throw a light bullpen session on Monday. If that goes well, he remains the projected starter for the series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers next week.
“Clay knows his body,” Mendoza noted. “If he says he’s good to go, we trust him. But we’re also going to be smart. We just called up Craig Kimbrel to help the bullpen, and we have some depth in Syracuse, but obviously, we’d prefer to have Clay out there. He’s been a rock for us.”