Mets’ Starting Pitching Dominance Linked to Key Offseason Additions
The New York Mets are off to a strong start this season, largely thanks to their stellar starting pitching. Even without Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas, the Mets currently lead the league with the best team ERA at 2.88, and their starters are posting a remarkable 2.67 ERA.
A significant factor in their success has been the performance of two key offseason additions: Clay Holmes and Griffin Canning. Both pitchers entered the season with questions surrounding their abilities—Holmes transitioning to a starting role and Canning’s underwhelming track record with the Angels. However, the pair has proven to be nearly unbeatable over the past six weeks.
Locked On Mets host Ryan Finkelstein pointed out on his X account that the Mets have won their last 14 games started by either Holmes or Canning. This strong trend has been a major reason why the team hasn’t lost three consecutive games all season. The trend continued this weekend against the Chicago Cubs, with both pitchers earning wins over one of the National League’s top teams.
The Mets lost both Clay Holmes and Griffin Canning's first starts in their opening series against the Astros.
Since then, the Mets are 14-0 when those two take the mound.
— Ryan Finkelstein (@FinkelsteinRyan) May 12, 2025
Holmes has adapted well to his new starting role, going 5-1 with a 2.74 ERA in his first eight starts as a Met. After working with the Mets’ pitching lab to refine his pitch mix during spring training, Holmes has gone six innings in three of his last four starts and has struck out 44 batters in 42.2 innings.
The more unexpected success has come from Canning, who secured a rotation spot in spring training. Signed to a one-year, $4.25 million deal in December after being non-tendered by the Atlanta Braves, Canning has gone 5-1 with a 2.36 ERA in his first eight starts. He’s also struck out 42 batters in 42 innings.
While some teams were willing to take a chance on Holmes as a starter, Canning received little interest, despite his promising raw stuff. The Mets took a gamble on him, and much like their success in rehabilitating the values of Sean Manaea and Luis Severino last season, they have helped Canning revamp his pitching arsenal in Queens, allowing him to tap into the potential that made him a highly regarded prospect with the Angels.
It remains to be seen whether Canning can maintain his current success and if Holmes can handle the demands of a full starting workload. However, with both pitchers contributing heavily, the Mets’ rotation is deep, and their early dominance on the mound looks far from a fluke. With Manaea and Montas on their way back, the Mets’ pitching staff is in an excellent position.
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