The recently acquired Freddy Peralta is the undisputed asset of the Mets staff. Kodai Senga has shown the potential to be a top starter in his own right, but has struggled to stay healthy and fell apart upon returning from a strained right hamstring. Top pitching prospect Nolan McLean showed ace potential during his eight-game stint with the Mets and could assume that role early in the 2027 season.
Holmes, meanwhile, had a quietly respectable 2025 season after being converted to the rotation. He posted a 3.53 ERA and a 1.304 WHiP in his 165.2 innings, striking out 129 batters with 66 walks. Although the Mets kept Holmes’ workload in check in the second half, he was one of the few pitchers who didn’t struggle after the All-Star Break, posting a 3.90 ERA and a 1.380 WHiP in 62.1 innings.
Training wheels come from New York Mets pitcher Clay Holmes in 2026
Holmes has already reported to spring training, get work with the Mets prior to the World Baseball Classic in March. He also mentioned the rotation as an area the Mets needed to make improvements, saying that while there is a lot of talent, they need to be able to reach their potential.
Holmes will play a key role in this. He showed his potential during the 2025 season as he pitched enough innings to be one of only 24 National League pitchers to qualify for the ERA title. Now Holmes must build on that momentum to become a stabilizing presence in the middle of the rotation.
The Mets’ starting rotation has a lot of talent, but there are also a lot of question marks. If Holmes can get the ball every fifth day and the Mets can continue to deliver a strong performance every time, he could be the key to their success in 2026.
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