Mets starting pitcher Clay Holmes speaks on his strong spring and making the transition from being a reliever.

Spring training always has its surprises, but few would have predicted Clay Holmes earning the honor of being the New

Holmes, who is converting to a starting pitcher this season, will draw the Opening Day nod for the Mets due to injuries to multiple arms.

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- New York Mets right-hander Clay Holmes will take the mound on opening day for his first start since 2018. Holmes has worked 9 2/3 shutout innings over three Grapefruit League starts as he moves from the bullpen to the rotation. The Mets visit Houston for their opener on March 27.

The Mets will turn to a new addition for the Opening Day pitching assignment. Clay Holmes, according to manager Carlos Mendoza, will get the start for the March

The New York Mets announced their Opening Day starter, and it feels like a shot at the snakebitten New York Yankees. As if signing Juan Soto wasn't enough.

The New York Mets are out to prove that they were right about Clay Holmes from the start. Holmes, who will be entering his first big league season as a starter, was given the Opening Day nod by manager Carlos Mendoza on Friday.

Holmes has made all of four big-league starts, all of them as a rookie with the Pirates in 2018. He shifted to the bullpen in 2019 with Pittsburgh, eventually flourishing into an All-Star closer with the Yankees. He’s made an even 300 relief appearances since his last start.

The Mets’ Opening Day starter will be a pitcher with all of four career starts to his name. Right-hander Clay Holmes will start March 27 in Houston, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza announced Friday, coron