Before the Mets embarked on their season-altering road series against the Marlins with fragile postseason hopes, manager Carlos Mendoza knew that Clay Holmes was going to take the ball for the first of two critical weekend games.
The high stakes were established. The pressure to perform was immense. No longer in full control of their playoff destiny, the Mets desperately needed their starter at his very best to ensure a meaningful Game 162 in Miami. And much to the team's delight, Holmes obliged.
While the Mets couldn't have reasonably expected flawlessness from Holmes, that wish was nearly fulfilled. The converted reliever shoved in his final start of the regular season, delivering six scoreless innings of one-hit ball in a clutch 5-0 win over the Marlins at LoanDepot Park.
"It definitely felt good. It was a game we had to win today," Holmes said. "We just went out there and I kind of gave it my all. Once we finish the job and get here in the playoffs, it'll be a bit more satisfying."
Before taking the mound, Holmes was handed a lead that the Mets never relinquished. He faced the minimum through two innings, and didn't allow his first walk and lone hit until the third. While the Marlins mustered a pair of runners in scoring position against Holmes, they didn't pose a threat.
Not only did Holmes deliver quality length — bettering the Mets' all-hands-on-deck pitching plan for Sunday — but he also checked off performances boxes that seemed unattainable this summer. He produced his first six-inning shutout of the 2025 campaign, registered his first quality start since Aug. 23, and held the opponent to four or fewer baserunners across five-plus innings of work for a fifth time.
Holmes lowered his ERA to 3.53, a mark that places him in the top 10 among qualified NL pitchers. The 32-year-old also capped off a successful transition to the rotation, logging a career-high 165.2 innings with 129 strikeouts across 31 starts (33 games). His previous season high was just 70 innings, set in 2021.
The gem from Holmes required just 78 pitches (46 strikes). He couldn't compile the punchouts — his two were a season-low for a six-inning outing — but with assistance from an effective sinker, he induced 11 groundouts and three flyouts. His teammates wasted no time giving him high-fives in the dugout. He too was all smiles.
After the win, Mendoza sung his praises for Holmes, who pitched one inning out of the bullpen on Sept. 24 and provided 3.2 innings of bulk relief work on Sept. 21. He hopes that the right-hander gets at least one more look once the calendar turns to October.
"Amazing, unbelievable," the Mets' skipper said of Holmes' effort. "For him to continue to take the baseball, not an easy transition when you look at the innings. For him to be feeling this good — this time of the year and how much we've used him — it says a lot about him and the work he put. Not only in the offseason, but throughout the season."
The Mets' bullpen also picked up right where Holmes left off, delivering three scoreless innings to complete an impressive one-hit shutout. The combination of Brooks Raley, Tyler Rogers, and Edwin Diaz combined for three strikeouts on 37 pitches.
Holmes is no stranger to postseason-level tension. He spent three-plus seasons as a high-leverage reliever for the Yankees, and in five World Series appearances against the Dodgers last season, he delivered 4.1 scoreless frames with six strikeouts. The weight of Game 161 only fueled him.
"Whether it's the World Series or the second-to-last game of the season, those games mean a lot," Holmes said. "You can definitely feel that. Just going into the game, it took me back to last year, losing the World Series and how bad I want to be a part of that, especially with this group here."
Six shutout innings for Clay Holmes 💪 pic.twitter.com/5RgLuMKjNI
— SNY (@SNYtv) September 27, 2025
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