The New York Mets have officially announced their Opening Day starter for the 2025 Major League Baseball season.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza named Clay Holmes the team’s Opening Day starter when New York takes on the Houston Astros on the road on Thursday, March 27.
“He earned it,” Mendoza said. “We like what we’re seeing. I know it’s a small sample size here, but it’s really encouraging. He really put himself in a really good position. Showed up here early in camp. He was ahead of everyone. But again, I think it’s more how he’s looked so far making that transition, and we’re comfortable with him going on Opening Day. know he’s worked really hard. Proud of him.”
Holmes signed a three-year $38 million deal with the Mets in the offseason and was signed to be a starter after being a reliever for the New York Yankees. After pitching well in spring training, Mendoza named Holmes the Opening Day starter.
Holmes went 3-5 with a 3.14 ERA in 67 games with the Yankees in 2024.
The Mets’ rotation got hit with injuries as Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas are both expected to begin the season on the IL. Manaea is dealing with an oblique injury and is expected to be back in mid-to-late April while Montas has a lat injury and will be sidelined until May or June. Their injuries helped pave the way for Holmes to be named the Opening Day starter
Mendoza also confirmed Kodai Senga will start one of the first five games of the season. David Peterson will also be part of the Mets rotation, while the final two spots will come down to Griffin Canning, Paul Blackburn, and Tylor Megill.
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