The Mets beat the Blue Jays, 4-3, on Monday as their spring training slate continued.
Here are the takeaways...
-Clay Holmes, who is a bit ahead workload-wise as he prepares to pitch for the United States in the World Baseball Classic in March, allowed two runs in 3.2 innings.
Holmes' sinker was up to 96 mph in the first inning, and he also mixed in his sweeper, changeup, and cutter. He got Andres Gimenez to strike out swinging on the sweeper to start the game and worked around a hit-by-pitch by getting Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to tap into a 1-6-3 double play.
In the second inning, Kazuma Okamoto took Holmes deep to dead center field for a two-run homer on a curveball that caught too much of the plate. Holmes hasn't thrown a curve in a regular season big league game since 2021.
Overall, Holmes gave up one hit, walked two, and struck out three while throwing 57 pitches (30 strikes).
-Tobias Myers fired 2.1 scoreless innings, allowing three hits (all singles), walking none, and striking out three.
Myers, who is stretching out as a starting pitcher, excelled in relief last season for the Brewers -- with a 1.91 ERA and 0.91 WHIP across 28.1 innings over 16 appearances as hitters slashed just .219/.245/.295 against him (.541 OPS). Manager Carlos Mendoza said last week that Myers will be on the Opening Day roster if healthy, with his role TBD.
-Carson Benge entered the game in the fifth inning. Benge struck out swinging his first time up after fouling off a pair of two-strike pitches. In his second and final at-bat, Benge hit a hard ground out (99 mph exit velocity) to first base.
- Hard-throwing relief prospect Ryan Lambert was dominant in his inning of work, striking out three -- two on his slider and one on his fastball, which was up to 99 mph. Lambert's only blemish was a soft two-out single.
Lambert is in the mix for one of the final spots in the bullpen.
- Outfield prospect Nick Morabito laced an RBI single to center field in his first time up, and followed that up by swiping second base. Morabito, whose big league ETA is 2027, stole 49 bases in 118 minor league games last season. He then swiped 16 more bags in 17 Arizona Fall League games.
Morabito, who went 1-for-3 with an RBI and run scored, also flashed the leather. To open the fifth inning, he charged in from left field to foul territory before snagging a fly ball right up against the protective netting.
- Mark Vientos was hit by a pitch in his first time up. He finished 0-for-2 with a strikeout.
- MJ Melendez, who is in the right field/bench competition, looped an RBI double the other way his second time up. He went 1-for-3.
- Vidal Brujan finished 0-for-2 with a walk and a stolen base. Brujan is battling for one of the final spots on the bench.
- Ronny Mauricio finished 1-for-2 with a pop fly double and a walk. Mauricio could be part of the Mets' Opening Day plans at shortstop in the event Francisco Lindor isn't ready after having hamate surgery. The expectation has been that Lindor will be back in time.
Highlights
Nick Morabito drives an RBI single to get the Mets on the board
— SNY (@SNYtv) February 23, 2026
(via @Mets) pic.twitter.com/S87BAvdIdx
MJ Melendez ties it up with an RBI double! pic.twitter.com/tDcN1bfpdq
— SNY (@SNYtv) February 23, 2026
Clay Holmes finishes his spring debut with a strikeout after an ABS challenge from Hayden Senger pic.twitter.com/miy6mWb59B
— SNY (@SNYtv) February 23, 2026
What a catch from Nick Morabito! pic.twitter.com/7n82BqX6iX
— SNY (@SNYtv) February 23, 2026
Ryan Lambert strikes out three in the 8th! pic.twitter.com/DXOIJBu9m6
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) February 23, 2026
What's next
The Mets host the Astros on Tuesday at 1:10 p.m. on SNY.