After an injury-free 2024 season with the Mets, Manaea suffered his first setback in orange in blue when he was shut down on Feb. 24 with a lingering oblique injury. A little over a week (17 days) later, he’s begun throwing the ball again and “feeling good,” Mendoza said.

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.

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.