<p>Holmes worked four innings in a piggyback setup, yielding two solo homers but avoiding sustained traffic and handing the reins to the bullpen with a sizable lead.</p><p>His role could be a blueprint for late-season depth, appealing to fantasy managers who prize length over pure save opportunities, especially in times when the Mets need to maximize outs and preserve bullpen arms.</p>

Holmes pitched four innings for the Mets, opening the bullpen stint that shifted the game’s momentum; he allowed two solo homers to Merrill and Cronenworth before being relieved.

Holmes pitched in a tandem start with Manaea as part of the Mets' plan to stabilize innings, highlighting the club's willingness to deploy experienced relievers in a joint role to manage workloads and maximize late-inning leverage.

Holmes has excelled at times but routinely fails to finish outings since Aug. 1, keeping him from deep starts. In a potential piggyback role, his efficiency and stamina become pivotal to the Mets’ late-season plan as they lean on tandem starts.

Holmes flashed brief efficiency but ran into trouble with early damage and a depleted pitch count, underscoring the Mets’ need for longer starts and a more reliable bridge to the late innings.