Clay Holmes thriving in pressure of playoffs after losing Yankees’ closer job: ‘Simplifies things’

· New York Post

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — There was Clay Holmes on Wednesday night, getting four more key outs for the Yankees in their one-run Game 3 win over the Royals in the ALDS.

It was the latest part of what’s been a stark turnaround for the right-hander, who lost his closer role earlier in the season but has become one of the most important parts of the Yankees’ postseason pen.

“Things haven’t gone perfectly and I can accept that,” Holmes said after he extended his career postseason scoreless streak to 12 innings over nine appearances Wednesday. “Sometimes it’s not perfect and I can be limited sometimes, but I still know the pitcher I can be.”

Clay Holmes throws a pitch during the ALDS against the Royals. Jason Szenes for the NY Post
Clay Holmes reacts during Game 3 of the ALDS on Oct. 9. AP

There’s a reason the right-hander thinks he’s been able to pitch so well in October: The stressful situation forces Holmes to think less and just pitch.

“[The playoffs] allow me to take it one out at a time and treat every out as the most important out of the game,’’ Holmes said. “It simplifies things. It makes it so you’re not in your head, thinking about this lane or this batter. You’ve got to get every batter out because this out can be the most pivotal out of the game. You never know in these games. For me, that mentality simplifies things and helps me get the most out of my stuff from the get-go. It puts me on the attack.”

Perhaps that explains some of Holmes’s struggles this season, but the Yankees have continued to talk about certain “lanes of righties” that Holmes is built for.

On Wednesday, though, Holmes replaced Clarke Schmidt with two outs in the bottom of the fifth and walked Bobby Witt Jr. — a righty hitter — and then got the lefty-swinging Vinnie Pasquantino to fly out to center to keep the game tied.

Follow The Post’s coverage of the Yankees in the postseason:

Holmes also got another left-handed bat, MJ Melendez, to fly out to center to end the sixth to finish his outing.

It was the first time Holmes entered a game before the seventh inning since he also entered a game in the fifth — one time — in 2022.

But there’s no denying his increased effectiveness since being pulled from the closer role.

During the regular season, Holmes had a 3.86 ERA and a WHIP of 1.55 over 42 innings in 45 save situations.

In 22 non-save spots, Holmes pitched to a 1.71 ERA with a WHIP of 0.81 over 21 innings.

“I can still get outs and be a really good pitcher,’’ Holmes said. “I know the team we have here and what we’re capable of, so no matter what role it is, I want to be a part of it. I want to help. That’s helped me be resilient. I have good teammates that had my back and had confidence in me that I’d bounce back.”