Where Mets rotation stands with Freddy Peralta, Clay Holmes in limbo

NEW YORK — As the first pitch between the Mets and Marlins reached home plate, Freddy Peralta was not at his expected post.

The right-hander was along the dugout railing, all smiles in a black Mets hoodie as Kodai Senga unfurled an opening strike.

Peralta was a late scratch from Friday’s start as trade talks intensified with teams across Major League Baseball with Monday’s trade deadline on the horizon.

The Mets saw it in their best interest to protect their asset in Peralta.

“That doesn’t mean something is going to materialize tonight, but once talks got to the level that they’re at, it just became the prudent path for us,” Mets interim manager Andy Green said.

Meanwhile, Senga returned to the major league mound for the first time in nearly three weeks. He was informed he would be starting about four hours before scheduled first pitch, signaling how unsettled the current state of the Mets’ rotation is at this point.

Freddy Peralta’s time coming to an end?

New York Mets starting pitcher Freddy Peralta (51) reacts after being taken out of the game against the Chicago Cubs during the sixth inning on June 25, 2026, at Citi Field.

Peralta’s short time with the Mets, after he was acquired from the Brewers in the offseason for right-hander Brandon Sproat and infield prospect Jett Williams, appears to be all but over.

He expected as much after his last start. Friday was the latest sign it will be a reality that Peralta’s next start will come in a different uniform.

“I know it probably is, but I have to focus and keep giving the best of myself, and if it happens, it happens,” Peralta said on July 26. “I’m thankful and grateful to be a part of this organization.”

Peralta is coveted for his past success more than what he has done for the Mets this season. In his previous three seasons combined with the Brewers, Peralta was 40-25 with a 3.40 ERA and 1.14 WHIP. He tossed at least 165 innings in each season while striking out 200 batters or more. Last season, when he won 17 games and posted a 2.70 ERA, he notched his second All-Star selection and finished fifth in NL Cy Young voting.

That made this season that much more perplexing as Peralta has gone 5-9 with a 4.99 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 113 strikeouts in 113⅔ innings.

And now, the Mets will move forward with a much younger guard as Nolan McLean, Christian Scott and Zac Thornton as key pieces, along with veteran Sean Manaea, who is signed through 2027.

New York Mets starting pitcher Clay Holmes (35) pitches in the first inning against the Washington Nationals on April 28, 2026, at Citi Field.

Will Clay Holmes’ next start come in the minor leagues, with the Mets or elsewhere?

That is the biggest question facing the Mets over the next few days as Holmes’ name has surfaced in trade speculation as he works to return from a fractured fibula. Holmes threw a side session before Friday’s game, targeting Sunday for an outing in some capacity at a current unknown location.

“Obviously things change really quick at this time of the year with everything that’s spinning and that could possibly change, but that is his intent (to pitch Sunday) and that is what he’s headed towards right now,” Green said.

If Holmes is still in the Mets organization, though, would it be worth it to throw him out there one more time?

Holmes is viewed as one of the top starting pitchers available behind the Tigers’ Tarik Skubal at the deadline. In nine starts this season, Holmes is 4-4 with 2.39 ERA and 1.10 WHIP across 52⅔ innings.

It could be advantageous to hold off with Holmes’ last impression being four scoreless innings in a rehab outing for Single-A St. Lucie.

Kodai Senga’s return to the rotation

Jul 31, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Kodai Senga (34) pitches in the third inning against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Senga might truly be pressed into action in the starting rotation now that Peralta appears on the outs and with Holmes’ future in question, as well.

For the first time since June 23, Senga opened the game on the mound on Friday night. Initially, it was one of his best starts of the season but he encountered trouble that dented his line in the fifth inning.

Senga began with seven straight outs, including four strikeouts, before he gave up a one-out double in the third. The right-hander then rattled off five more consecutive outs. He needed only 33 pitches to get through four innings.

“The fastball was alive. He was attacking, filling up the strike zone, not deterred by bouncing a forkball kind of halfway there,” Green said. “He went right back to it. I love to see that. I like it more than just putting that pitch in your pocket and forgetting about it.”

Senga, who had not pitched since July 18, walked the opening two batters of the fifth inning and then gave up an RBI double to Jakob Marsee. Senga was pulled at 49 pitches before two of his runs crossed on a Joe Mack two-run double. Green said he wished he had taken Senga out and left a positive feeling, but Senga wanted more during a mound visit after the two free passes.

“I thought I was probably done, and I saw (interpreter) Hiro (Fujiwara) next to him and thought this is different,” Senga said through an interpreter. “Francisco (Lindor) said, ‘You’re not coming out of the game,’ and then the thought was, ‘I still have something to do. I still have a job to do out on the mound.'”

Senga had been placed in the bullpen after continuous struggles in two starts back from the injured list on June 16 and 23. He allowed a combined 11 earned runs in 7⅔ innings. On the whole, Senga is now 0-8 with a 8.85 ERA in 13 appearances.

Green would not say whether Senga would get another start, given the uncertainty in the starting rotation, instead offering that he would “get an opportunity to pitch meaningful innings” the rest of the way.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Where Mets rotation stands with Freddy Peralta, Clay Holmes in limbo

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