Mets' Clay Holmes to start on Tuesday vs. Padres, with Sean Manaea potentially coming out of bullpen

With the Mets having an off day on Monday, the team has a chance to get a little creative with their starting pitching plans heading into the upcoming three-game series with the San Diego Padres.

According to manager Carlos Mendoza, the Mets will start Clay Holmes on Tuesday in what would normally be Sean Manaea’s turn in the rotation.

Depending on how Sunday’s series finale against the Texas Rangers goes, the Mets could then “potentially” use Manaea in a piggybacking tandem situation, bringing the lefty out of the bullpen behind Holmes.

"We still need to get through today, but Clay is going to start on Tuesday," said Mendoza. "That’s all we know there."

After stepping up to become the Mets’ ace down the stretch and in the playoffs in 2024, this season has been one to forget for the veteran Manaea, who re-signed with the club on a three-year, $75 million contract in the offseason.

After an oblique injury in spring training and then a setback involving loose bodies in his left pitching elbow, Manaea’s regular season didn’t begin until mid July, and he hasn’t looked like the same pitcher the Mets saw last season.

In 11 starts, Manaea has pitched to a 5.76 ERA and has allowed 52 hits, including 10 home runs, in 50.0 innings. Since the start of August, Manea has an ERA of 7.71.

The Mets enter play on Sunday a half-game ahead of the San Francisco Giants for the final NL Wild Card spot.