Three keys for Mets as real work begins on season with high expectations

Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets.HOUSTON — There’s no way for the Mets to truly replicate what they did a year ago, when they exceeded nearly all expectations under first-year manager Carlos Mendoza.From coming back after starting the season 0-5, to the OMG craze, to a late-season push to the postseason that resulted in a run to the NLCS, 2024 was a feel-good story in Queens, punctuated by grabbing Juan Soto away from the Yankees in free agency.And now the real work is about to begin.The team is set to work out at Daikin (RIP Minute Maid and Enron) Park on Wednesday in advance of Thursday’s season opener.That’s when Clay Holmes takes the mound for his first start since 2018 — and just the fifth of his major league career.Holmes — and the rest of the rotation — is among the question marks for the Mets heading into the season, one in which they’ll be dealing with a playoff-or-bust mentality.Here’s a look at some of the keys to the early part of the season: The Mets took a chance on Holmes, a reliable reliever for much of his career with the Yankees, but who lost the closer’s job last season.After signing as a free agent, the right-hander impressed this spring, enough so that he got the call for Opening Day.Of course, part of the decision to go with Holmes is that the rotation is without other free-agent starters Sean Manaea (recovering from an oblique injury) and Frankie Montas (lat strain).“We wanted to see how pitching was going to shake out and getting going, pitching is always tough to stay healthy,’’ Brandon Nimmo said.

“We’ve had a couple of guys go down, but feel like Clay Holmes has been a real nice surprise for us and he’s built up and he is going to be starting Opening Day.”President of baseball operations David Stearns had similar thoughts.“I think some of the adjustments we have seen with Clay, adjusting really well ...