The Mets will temporarily use a six-man rotation, keeping Tong in the rotation after his debut and operating with a seven-man bullpen until rosters expand. Tong worked five innings, allowing four runs (one earned) with six strikeouts and six hits, earning his first big league win in a 19-run offensive outburst. Nolan McLean and Tong join David Peterson, Kodai Senga and Sean Manaea in the rotation, providing depth beyond a spot start. Clay Holmes has struggled since the All-Star Break with a 4.38 ERA and low strikeout rate but remains scheduled to start next Wednesday. New York has an off day Thursday and a key series against Cincinnati ahead.
Tong worked five innings against the Marlins tonight. He gave up four runs, only one of which was earned after the Mets made a pair of errors in the fifth inning. Tong punched out six without issuing a walk while allowing six hits. Completing five innings was all he needed to do to pick up his first big league win. The Mets pounded Miami pitching for 19 runs in a blowout victory.
Nolan McLean, called up two weeks ago, has begun his big league career with a trio of fantastic starts. He fired eight scoreless innings against Philadelphia last time out and has allowed only two runs through his first 20 1/3 innings. David Peterson has been their best starter all year, while Kodai Senga and Sean Manaea are surely locked into rotation spots. It wouldn't have made much sense to call Tong up just for a spot start.
Clay Holmes has a 4.38 ERA with a well below-average 15.8% strikeout rate in eight starts since the All-Star Break. He has only completed six innings once during that stretch. The Mets could've considered moving him to the bullpen, where he'll probably end up in October if they hold onto a playoff spot. That's not the plan for now, and Holmes is lined up to start in Detroit next Wednesday.
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