Mets righty Clay Holmes said he pitched through some fatigue during the latter part of the start, as he got up to 77 pitches in Saturday’s start.

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.

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

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.

Mets infielder Jeff McNeil will not play on Opening Day due to a spring training injury, a right oblique strain.

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

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Clay Holmes — a former Yankees closer — was named the Opening Day starter for the Mets on Friday. “He earned it,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “We like what we’re seeing. I know it’s a small sample size, but it’s very encouraging.”

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