Mets’ Clay Holmes Faces Sudden Hamstring Injury – Could This Shake Up Their Season?

The Mets stumbled in a 4-0 defeat against the Athletics, but what really caught my eye was Clay Holmes exiting the game in the sixth inning nursing some “left hamstring tightness.” Now, Holmes wasn’t downplaying the injury after the game; he seemed pretty confident it’s nothing that’ll keep him sidelined for long. Manager Carlos Mendoza echoed that sentiment but made it clear the team’s next moves hinge on how Holmes feels today. It’s a bit nerve-wracking given the Mets’ season’s been peppered with injuries already — think Juan Soto sidelined with a calf issue and Jorge Polanco’s hamstring troubles. Holmes had been shaping up well in his sophomore year as a starter, tossing 18 innings with just three earned runs allowed, clocking 12 strikeouts and walking eight. Sure, his FIP suggests his sparkling 1.50 ERA might be a tad lucky, but he’s comfortably the third-best starter behind Nolan McLean and Kodai Senga. The lone hiccup in his latest outing was an RBI single from Shea Langeliers in the third, and he was pulled after 81 pitches with one out in the sixth. Should Holmes land on the Injured List, the Mets face a bit of a conundrum — their long relievers Sean Manaea and Tobias Myers could be tapped to start, but Manaea’s recent velocity dip and higher walk rate are troubling, and Myers had a rough outing last night to boot. They could also turn to Triple-A arms like Christian Scott or Jonah Tong, but tugging them up just for a spot start might disrupt their development. Fingers crossed, though, that Holmes shakes it off in time for his next turn on the mound. Meanwhile, Senga is slated to pitch this afternoon against Jacob Lopez and the A’s. LEARN MORE

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.

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.