rewrite this title How Mets’ Clay Holmes assesses first half after transition to starter

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Clay Holmes knew his ceiling was five innings on Sunday, so length wasn’t a focal point of his final start before the All-Star break. 

The right-hander had what could be described as a typical Holmes performance, allowing two earned runs over five innings in the Mets’ 3-2 loss to the Royals at Kauffman Stadium. 

Sean Manaea, as was planned by manager Carlos Mendoza, piggybacked Holmes and pitched into the ninth before allowing a walk-off RBI single to Nick Loftin. 

Holmes had a rough second inning in which he allowed his only runs on two doubles and a hit batter but otherwise was efficient. It helped that he got Bobby Witt Jr. to hit into two double plays. 

“It was nice to get some ground balls and force some contact,” Holmes said. “With runners on I wasn’t able to make a pitch and later on in the game it ended up costing us, but overall I was able to get the ball on the ground … it’s kind of who I am.” 

The pitch Holmes didn’t execute was a changeup on which John Rave stroked a two-run double. 

Holmes, who has transitioned to starting this season after spending most of his career as a reliever, said he’s in a good position headed into the All-Star break. 

“There has been a lot of growth and I think I have got enough of a sample size now where you can really make some good assessments of what really I have been good at and what’s kind of been hindering me a little bit,” Holmes said. “As long as I get ground balls and really not beating myself, I kind of like where I’m at and where things are going.” 

Holmes, who arrived on a three-year contract worth $38 million, has pitched to a 3.31 ERA and logged 103 ¹/₃ innings over his 19 starts this season.

His previous career high was 70 innings pitched in 2021. 

“We will continue to monitor it and watch him closely,” Mendoza said. “He’s already way exceeded his career [high] innings, but he continues to feel good physically. He’s one of those where we will continue to have that conversation with him, but we’re counting on him.”