Clay Holmes' fearless approach was on full display in his 2026 debut

Holmes and the Mets got their road trip off to a good start on Monday night in St. Louis

What’s Up with the Mets? ⚾️

• The Mets took the opener of their series with the Cardinals by the score of 4-2 (Box)

• RHP Clay Holmes started for the Mets and pitched well, going 5.2 innings and allowing two runs on four hits and three walks. He struck out five and allowed a solo home run to Nolan Gorman

• Bo Bichette went 1-5 but the one hit was a two out RBI single in the 5th that gave the Mets the lead for good

• Carson Benge had two hits and stole a base

• Every Mets offensive starter reached base at least once

• Tobias Myers, Brooks Raley, and Devin Williams combined to throw 3.1 innings of scoreless relief

• The Mets did struggle again with runners in scoring position on Monday night, going 1-for-14 in such situations

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Injury Updates 🏥

• 1B Jorge Polanco has been limited to DH duties in recent games due to an achilles issue

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Play of the Game ⭐️

The play of the game in this one came in the top of the 5th. With the Mets and Cardinals battling to a 1-1 tie, the struggling Bo Bichette came to the plate with two on and two out. It wasn’t the most graceful at-bat as he actually fell down in the batter’s box upon contact, but he was able to float an RBI hit the other way into right field to put the Mets ahead to stay.

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The Just Mets Podcast 🎙️

In the latest episode of The Just Mets Podcast, Andrew and Rich react to the Mets winning their first series of the year, Luis Robert Jr’s awesome weekend and Bo Bichette getting booed. Plus, their inaugural Curtain Call and El Stinko segments and predictions for the week ahead!

SUBSCRIBE: YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify

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Down on the Farm 🌾

No Mets minor league affiliates had games on Monday

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Today’s Game 🗓

Match-up: Mets (3-1) vs. Cardinals (2-2)

Where: Busch Stadium – St. Louis, MO

Starters: RHP Kodai Senga (0-0, - ERA) vs. RHP Andre Pallante (0-0, - ERA)

When: 7:45 PM EDT

Where to Watch: SNY

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An unafraid Clay Holmes led the way for the Mets on Monday ✍️

Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

The Mets’ first road game of 2026 was a rather pedestrian 4-2 win over the Cardinals in a contest that featured a lot to be excited about.

Bo Bichette came up with a clutch RBI hit, Devin Williams secured his first Mets save, and Carson Benge delivered the first multi-hit game of his career.

But to me, the story was Clay Holmes.

The veteran righty was an underrated success story a season ago after joining the Mets and making the transition from closer in the Bronx to starter in Queens.

While his results coming down the stretch a year ago were a little uneven as his innings continued to mount, his final start of 2025 was the most clutch outing the Mets got from a starting pitcher all season. With the season on the brink, Holmes blanked the Marlins on the penultimate day of the ‘25 campaign, and he picked up right where he left off in his first outing of 2026.

In 5.2 innings against the Cardinals, Holmes surrendered two runs on just four hits and three walks, while striking out five.

Clay Holmes metrics on Monday night via StatCast (Baseball Savant)

The state of the Mets’ rotation was a popular discussion point all spring, and for good reason. New York had six healthy starters, but it simply did not make sense to begin the year with a six-man rotation. So much attention was given to newcomer Freddy Peralta, young sensation Nolan McLean, and rebound candidate Kodai Senga. Sean Manaea’s velocity (or lack thereof) was also a popular talking point. It felt like Holmes (as well as David Peterson) sort of flew under the radar, and I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the pair has given the Mets their two best starts thus far.

Holmes in particular feels like a key component in what will hopefully be a successful starting staff for New York. In year two as a starter, his inning total will likely increase, and in theory, at least, he should have more stamina as the summer drags on.

He’s unafraid, goes after hitters, consistently can get ahead, and more often than not has given the Mets a chance to win the game.

Monday’s outing was exactly how the Mets would like to draw it up. Nearly six strong innings, leaves the game with the lead, and hands it over to a bullpen that prevented things from getting interesting.

Next up is the season debut for Senga, in an outing everyone that follows this team is looking forward to. If he can back up his spring training performance and pitch well, this rotation has a chance to be truly special.

And Holmes will undoubtedly be a huge piece of the puzzle.

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Around the League 🚩

• Chase Burns tossed five scoreless frames to lead the Reds to a 2-0 win over the Pirates

• Kyle Isbel and Isaac Collins both homered in Kansas City’s 3-1 victory over Minnesota

• The Rangers beat the Orioles 5-2 in a game loaded with former Mets

• Atlanta blanked the A’s 4-0 behind six excellent innings from Bryce Elder

• The Nationals scored 13 runs and pounded out 17 hits in a 13-2 drubbing of the Phillies