By Sunday 
Who knew two of baseball’s fiercest rivals could be so… generous? This winter, the Braves and Yankees essentially wrapped up gift-wrapped pitching help for the Mets—only the barbs come in the form of sub-4.00 ERAs, not ribbon and bow.
The Gift That Keeps on Giving
Sometimes a change of scenery is all it takes. The Mets scooped up Griffin Canning and Clay Holmes this offseason after both were quietly jettisoned by their former clubs. Canning was an afterthought in Atlanta—he didn’t even stick around a month after landing there via the Jorge Soler trade. Holmes, once a flamethrower in New York, hit a rough patch in the Bronx and headed east.
Fast‑forward eight combined starts, and the duo is a sparkling 4‑2 with 49 strikeouts between them. Not bad for “castoffs.”
“The Braves are certainly eating crow, and the Yankees are having another healthy helping of some humble pie,” fans are chuckling.
Canning and Holmes: Surprise Starters
What makes this even crazier? Holmes shifted from the back of the bullpen to the front of the rotation—and is thriving. Meanwhile, Canning is reminding everyone why he was once a coveted prospect. Together, they’ve given the Mets rotation a jolt, turning what looked like a weakness into unexpected depth.
“I do not know how sustainable this is,” admits one blogger, “but for right now, it’s working brilliantly.”
What It Means for the NL East
New York’s lineup—anchored by Pete Alonso, Francisco Lindor, and Juan Soto—has the firepower to win the National League. But come October, sluggers cool off. That’s when you need reliable arms. Canning and Holmes could be the difference between a quick exit and a multi‑round run.
The Braves, reeling after losing key bats and arms, sit among baseball’s worst. The Phillies may have overstayed their window. Suddenly, the Mets look like the team on the rise in a power‑packed division.
Can the Rotation Hold in October?
Star power alone won’t cut it in the playoffs. As one observer noted,
“All three [Alonso, Lindor, Soto] can carry a lineup with their bats, but what happens if the bats fall to sleep in October?”
That’s where Canning and Holmes come in. They’ve been revelations so far, but the true test lies ahead. If they keep this up, New York’s rivals will be kicking themselves for the generosity they unwittingly showed.
Bottom Line:
The Mets might not be a “team of destiny” yet, but with their newfound pitching punch courtesy of two former foes, they’re warming up nicely. Playoff berth? Probably. Multiple series wins? Odds look good. Championship? We’ll have to wait and see—because postseason baseball is where gift‑wrapped surprises really count.