Clay Holmes left one game but said he is “optimistic” he will not miss another.
The Mets starting pitcher exited with one out in the top of the sixth inning with what the club is calling left hamstring tightness that, as of Friday night, did not appear to be serious.
In the hours after Holmes walked off the field, Mets trainers put him through tests, and he “continues to check the boxes,” manager Carlos Mendoza said after a 4-0 loss to the A’s at Citi Field.
The Mets were feeling confident enough in Holmes’ hamstring that even though it forced him from the outing, there were no immediate plans for an MRI exam. Holmes walked off the field and walked around the clubhouse with no noticeable difference in his gait.
Of course, he and the Mets will have a better feeling for the severity when he wakes up Saturday, and the club’s fingers are crossed until then.
“Hopefully we’re in a good spot, doesn’t seem too major,” said Holmes, who had been rolling until he took a few steps toward first base and felt something “weird.”
To begin the sixth, Tyler Soderstrom hit a chopper to second base and Holmes instinctively accelerated toward first.
New York Mets pitcher Clay Holmes (35) is pulled in the sixth inning against the Athletics at Citi Field, Friday, April 10, 2026. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST
He made his way back to the mound and felt uncertain. He airmailed a pitch to Jacob Wilson, and “something didn’t look right,” Mendoza said. The next pitch Wilson smacked for a single, and Mendoza and a trainer immediately jogged to the mound.
“Made the smart decision to not make it worse,” said Holmes, who was strong (5 ¹/₃ innings, one run) for a third straight start to begin the season and has looked as if he is taking a step following a successful first major league season as a starting pitcher.
The “hope,” Mendoza said, is that an IL stint is not required. If Holmes takes a turn for the worse, Sean Manaea and Tobias Myers would be rotation candidates from the bullpen, and Christian Scott and Jonah Tong are in the minors.
Jorge Polanco did not play for a second straight day and has not played the field in two weeks, but the Mets are encouraged after receiving “good news” Thursday.
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Polanco’s left Achilles issue grew serious enough for the club to send him for an MRI exam, which revealed that “the tendon’s healthy,” Mendoza said, and the issue is bursitis — inflammation, basically.
“He continues to be day to day. He feels a lot better,” Mendoza said of Polanco, who took batting practice on the field before the game.
Mendoza believed Polanco would be available as a pinch-hitter, which was a significant development considering Thursday afternoon Mendoza acknowledged the club was weighing a stint on the injured list.
For now at least, putting Polanco on the shelf is no longer an option. The Mets do not believe there is anything seriously wrong with his Achilles, which they think should heal.
New York Mets second baseman Jorge Polanco (11) reacts after he reaches on an infield single during the first inning when the New York Mets played the Arizona Diamondbacks Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at Citi Field in Queens, NY. Robert Sabo for NY Post
They are still waiting to see how Polanco feels each day, though, and have no timetable for when he can return to the field. Polanco, who has a history of leg issues, played first base for the first two games of the season and served as designated hitter for his next eight games.
“It was good that now we know what we’re dealing with,” Mendoza said.
Ronny Mauricio went 0-for-3 in his first start of the season, the switch-hitter playing third base against a righty (J.T. Ginn) while Mark Vientos took a seat (amid an 0-for-10 slide).
Mendoza wanted to give Bo Bichette a half-day off amid a stretch of nine games in nine days, so Bichette served as DH.
Upon calling up Mauricio when Juan Soto was placed on the injured list, Mendoza acknowledged that it would be difficult for Mauricio to find consistent time. Mauricio’s first at-bat of the season being a walk-off single Tuesday helped.
“I’ve said it since he got here: It’s probably going to be hard [to find at-bats], but it happens fast,” Mendoza said.
Soto is progressing “as we would expect,” president of baseball operations David Stearns said.
Soto is not yet running after suffering a right calf strain April 3. Stearns was not sure about when Soto would begin running, but “we’re optimistic this is not going to be a particularly long-term absence.”
Along with Jeff McNeil, the Mets thanked Luis Severino on the big screen before the game.
Severino, a popular Met during his strong 2024 season, waved to the applauding crowd.