2026 Stats
W-L
4-5
ERA
2.86
WHIP
1.16
K
46
SV
0
Rest-of-Season Projections
2026 Fantasy Outlook
Holmes made the transition from closer to starting pitcher in 2025 after inking a two-year, $26 million deal with the Mets, and it worked out surprisingly well as he finished the campaign with a 3.55 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 129:66 K:BB over 165.2 innings. The right-hander needed his workload managed down the stretch and made two relief appearances, but there was always likely to be load management in some form as he more than doubled his previous career high for innings. Holmes' fastball averaged more than 96 mph as a reliever in 2024, but his velocity dropped, unsurprisingly, to 93.7 mph in 2025 while handling a starter's workload. His strikeout rate also dipped nearly seven points to 18.2 percent, with an 8.9 percent K-BB rate ranking fourth worst among qualified starting pitchers. A 4.35 xERA and 4.11 xFIP indicate he may have deserved some worse results, which fantasy managers will want to keep in mind given his lower strikeout potential. That being said, there should also be some room for growth after getting the first year as a full-time starter under his belt. Read Past Outlooks
Signed a two-year, $26 million contract with the Mets in December of 2024. Traded to the Cubs in August of 2026. Contract includes $12 million player option for 2027.
Rusty in return, team debut
Holmes (4-5) took the loss against the Royals on Saturday, allowing four runs on six hits and two walks in four innings. He struck out one.
Analysis
Making both his Cubs team debut and return from nearly a two-month absence due to a fractured fibula, Holmes was mostly ineffective and failed to turn in a single clean inning of work. The 33-year-old right-hander managed to throw 70 pitches in what was arguably a season-worst outing, but his workload restrictions are likely to loosen in future starts. Holmes will aim to rebound in his next scheduled appearance against the Cardinals, still holding a strong 2.86 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 46:20 K:BB over 56.2 innings.
Making both his Cubs team debut and return from nearly a two-month absence due to a fractured fibula, Holmes was mostly ineffective and failed to turn in a single clean inning of work. The 33-year-old right-hander managed to throw 70 pitches in what was arguably a season-worst outing, but his workload restrictions are likely to loosen in future starts. Holmes will aim to rebound in his next scheduled appearance against the Cardinals, still holding a strong 2.86 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 46:20 K:BB over 56.2 innings.
Pitching Stats
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2026 MLB Game Log
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Minor League Game Log
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Pitching Appearances Breakdown
Average Pitch Count
90
Last 10 Games
90
Last 5 Games
92
How many pitches does Clay Holmes generally throw?
1-10
11-20
21-30
31-40
41-50
51-60
61-70
71-80
81-90
91-100
101-110
111-120
121+
What part of the game does Clay Holmes generally pitch?
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
Extra
% Games Reaching Innings Threshold
% Games By Number of Innings Pitched
Left/Right Pitching Splits
Since 2024
-3%
BAA vs LHP
2026
-24%
BAA vs RHP
| BAA | K | BB | H | HR | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since 2024vs Left | .235 | 116 | 67 | 134 | 14 | |||
| Since 2024vs Right | .243 | 127 | 41 | 122 | 8 | |||
| 2026vs Left | .242 | 25 | 11 | 31 | 3 | |||
| 2026vs Right | .185 | 21 | 9 | 15 | 1 | |||
| 2025vs Left | .223 | 66 | 44 | 72 | 9 | |||
| 2025vs Right | .261 | 63 | 22 | 78 | 5 | |||
| 2024vs Left | .258 | 25 | 12 | 31 | 2 | |||
| 2024vs Right | .238 | 43 | 10 | 29 | 2 | |||
| More Splits→ | View More Split Stats | |||||||
Home/Away Pitching Splits
Since 2024
-8%
ERA on Road
2026
-4%
ERA at Home
| ERA | WHIP | IP | K/9 | BB/9 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since 2024Home | 3.45 | 1.18 | 135.2 | 7.7 | 3.1 | ||||
| Since 2024Away | 3.19 | 1.36 | 149.2 | 7.6 | 3.7 | ||||
| 2026Home | 2.78 | 1.19 | 22.2 | 7.9 | 2.8 | ||||
| 2026Away | 2.91 | 1.15 | 34.0 | 6.9 | 3.4 | ||||
| 2025Home | 3.69 | 1.20 | 83.0 | 6.6 | 3.6 | ||||
| 2025Away | 3.38 | 1.40 | 82.2 | 7.4 | 3.6 | ||||
| 2024Home | 3.30 | 1.10 | 30.0 | 10.5 | 2.1 | ||||
| 2024Away | 3.00 | 1.48 | 33.0 | 9.0 | 4.1 | ||||
| More Splits→ | View More Split Stats | ||||||||
Stat Review
How does Clay Holmes compare to other starting pitchers?
This section compares his stats with all starting pitcher seasons from the previous three seasons (minimum 120 innings)*. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that stat and it would be considered average.
* Exit Velocity, Barrels/BBE %, Balls Hit 95+ MPH %, and Spin Rate are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 120 IP). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
* Exit Velocity, Barrels/BBE %, Balls Hit 95+ MPH %, and Spin Rate are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 120 IP). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
K/BB
2.30K/9
7.3BB/9
3.2HR/9
0.6Fastball
93.7 mphERA
2.86WHIP
1.16BABIP
.270GB/FB
2.29Left On Base
79.5%Exit Velocity
83.6 mphBarrels/BBE
3.9%Spin Rate
2122 rpmBalls Hit 95+ MPH
30.6%Swinging Strike
9.4%Advanced Pitching Stats
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Defensive Stats
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Stats Vs Today's Lineup
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2025
2024
2023
2022
Holmes saved 74 games for the Yankees from 2022 through 2024, including a career-high 30 saves last season, but he'll try his hand at starting for the Mets after inking a three-year, $38 million deal this offseason. Holmes' top skill is generating groundballs -- he has a career 66.3 percent groundball rate and has generated grounders at a 60 percent clip every year save his rookie year for Pittsburgh in 2018. Among 2024 qualified starters, Framber Valdez was the only starter with a groundball rate north of 60 percent (60.6%). The top five starters by groundball rate were Valdez, Max Fried, Cristopher Sanchez, Logan Webb and Tanner Houck, and if Holmes is as productive as even the lesser of those five, his contract will be a bargain for the Mets. Holmes hasn't topped 100 innings since 2018, when he threw 127.2 frames, and that was also the last year he made a start at any level. He probably won't build up much past 120 innings in his first year getting stretched out, and it's possible the experiment won't go as planned and the Mets move him to a setup role.
More Fantasy News
Activated ahead of start
The Cubs reinstated Holmes (fibula) from the 60-day injured list ahead of his start Saturday against the Royals, Vinnie Duber of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Analysis
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Slated for Cubs debut this weekend
Manager Craig Counsell said that Holmes (fibula) is expected to be activated from the 60-day injured list to make his Cubs debut with a start this weekend in Kansas City, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Analysis
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Catches on with Cubs
The Cubs acquired Holmes (fibula) and outfielder Tyrone Taylor from the Mets on Monday in exchange for infielder Jefferson Rojas, Chelsea Janes of SNY.tv reports.
Analysis
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Completes third rehab start
Holmes (fibula) allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits and no walks while striking out three batters across 5.1 innings in a rehab start Sunday with High-A Brooklyn.
Analysis
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Penciled in for another rehab start
Holmes (fibula) is tentatively scheduled to make a rehab start for High-A Brooklyn on Sunday, Chelsea Janes of SNY.tv reports.
Analysis
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Brewers heavily involved
The Brewers are among the clubs in pursuit of Holmes, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.
Analysis
Holmes has not made a start at the major-league level since mid-May as he works his way back from a right fibula fracture, but he's made three rehab starts and will be ready to roll immediately for the team that acquired him at the trade deadline. The righty has posted a 2.39 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 45:18 K:BB through 52.2 innings this season and is an impending free agent.
Holmes has not made a start at the major-league level since mid-May as he works his way back from a right fibula fracture, but he's made three rehab starts and will be ready to roll immediately for the team that acquired him at the trade deadline. The righty has posted a 2.39 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 45:18 K:BB through 52.2 innings this season and is an impending free agent.