National League ERA leader Clay Holmes will start against the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday afternoon as the New York Mets try for just their second road series win of the season.

When Holmes takes the mound in Anaheim, Calif., it will be his first career start against the Angels.

The right-handed Holmes (3-2, 1.75 ERA) hasn’t allowed more than two runs in any of his six starts. He comes in off an 8-0 win over the Washington Nationals on Tuesday that saw him allow three hits and a walk over six innings while striking out six.

“He’s been doing it since last year,” teammate Juan Soto told the New York Post. “No surprise what he’s been doing. He’s a grinder. He’s been putting in the work every day, so I’m really happy to see that.”

Holmes is 0-0 with a 2.35 ERA in nine career relief appearances against the Angels.

New York’s only road series victory came April 2-5 when it took three of four games at San Francisco. The Mets defeated Arizona in their next game to improve to 7-4 on the season but since have lost 18 of their next 22 games.

The Mets won the series opener, 4-3, on Friday on Ronny Mauricio’s go-ahead home run in the seventh inning. They had several excellent scoring chances to win Saturday’s game and the series before losing 4-3 in 10 innings on Oswald Peraza’s walk-off bases-loaded single off reliever Austin Warren.

It was Peraza’s first career walk-off hit and snapped a seven-game losing streak for the Angels.

“It feels amazing,” Peraza said after lining an 0-2 curveball into the gap in left-center to drive in automatic runner Adam Frazier from third. “We needed that win, and thank God. I was looking for a good pitch to hit and see the ball, and I feel so happy for the win.”

It was just the second win in 13 games for the Angels, who — like the Mets — have won only three series this season.

“I guess there was no other way to do it than a walk off,” Los Angeles manager Kurt Suzuki said. “It hasn’t been easy. So really proud of them. They grinded, they battled.”

Right-hander Jack Kochanowicz (2-0, 3.09) gets the start for Los Angeles and will try to give the Angels their first series victory since April 10-12 at Cincinnati. That also was the last time Kochanowicz picked up a victory, allowing two hits and one run over seven innings in a 10-2 win in the series opener.

A big question going into Sunday’s finale is who will be playing shortstop for the Mets.

Mauricio, filling in for injured All-Star Francisco Lindor, broke his left thumb on a head-first slide into first base, beating out an infield single in the seventh inning of Saturday’s loss.

“He’s going on the IL,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “It’s tough obviously. You lose your everyday shortstop and the guy that comes up that is getting the everyday opportunity here now is hurt. Somebody else is going to have an opportunity.”

–Field Level Media

Atlanta Braves star right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. went on the injured list on Sunday, with right-hander Spencer Strider returning from the IL to make his season debut against the Colorado Rockies in Denver.

Acuna was placed on the 10-day injured list with a strained left hamstring. The Braves selected fellow outfielder Jose Azocar from Triple-A Gwinnett to take Acuna’s spot on the roster.

Acuna exited in the second inning after limping toward first base on a groundout in Atlanta’s 9-1 victory over Colorado.

“It didn’t look great, him coming off the field,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said. “I am hoping it’s just some cramping and that type of thing, but he’s getting an MRI. That’s never good when you have to get an MRI.”

Acuna, 28, grabbed at his hamstring and pulled up when attempting to run out a grounder he hit in the second inning. He limped off the field under his own power after being examined by the team’s medical staff.

A five-time All-Star and 2023 National League MVP, Acuna is hitting .252 with two homers and nine RBIs in 34 games.

Acuna was replaced in right field by Eli White, who is hitting .196 with two homers and eight RBIs in 20 games.

Strider returned from his rehabilitation assignment and was reinstated to the roster to take the spot of fellow right-hander Hunter Stratton, who was optioned to Gwinnett following Saturday’s game.

After becoming the fastest pitcher to record 100 strikeouts (61 innings) in a season in modern MLB history in 2023, Strider made just two starts in 2024 before undergoing season-ending UCL surgery.

Last season, Strider went 7-14 with a 4.45 ERA across 23 starts in his return from injury.

Strider, 27, began this season on the injured list with an oblique strain but is prepared to rejoin the sizzling Braves. They have won both games of the weekend series to expand on the best record (24-10) in the majors.

Strider, meanwhile, has dominated the Rockies in three career appearances (two starts), going 2-0 with an 0.50 ERA. He struck out 16 batters and scattered two hits over eight innings in a 3-0 win over Colorado on Sept. 1, 2022, before striking out 13 Rockies in a six-inning win last June 14.

–Field Level Media

The Milwaukee Brewers recalled right-handed pitcher Logan Henderson from Triple-A Nashville and announced him as the starter for their Sunday afternoon road game against the Washington Nationals.

Henderson, 24, will be inserted into the lineup immediately, starting on the mound for the Brewers. Milwaukee has won five of its past six games.

Ranked as the No. 6 prospect and the top pitcher in the Brewers’ system by MLB Pipeline, Henderson will be making his second big league start of the season on Sunday.

He is 1-0 with a 9.00 ERA in one appearance. He gave up two runs on three hits in two innings as an opener in an 8-2 loss to the Kansas City Royals on April 4.

Last season, Henderson started five games for the Brewers and was 3-0 with a 1.78 ERA.

In five games (three starts) for Nashville this season, Henderson is 2-0 with a 1.02 ERA. He has struck out 26 batters in 17 2/3 innings.

In a corresponding move, the Brewers sent right-hander Easton McGee, 28, to Nashville. He pitched two innings of relief this season in two games and allowed just one base hit.

Washington left-hander Peter Poulin (2-0, 4.11 ERA) will oppose McGee in the series finale.

–Field Level Media