Mets in 4-pitcher predicament behind Clay Holmes

The New York Mets are heading into Monday's game in St. Louis against the Cardinals facing a bit of a shorthanded scenario.

The Mets have Clay Holmes starting on the mound, but behind him, they're likely down as many as four pitchers.

According to Hagen Snell, these are the four Mets who are "likely all unavailable out of the pen today":

• Luke Weaver
• Huascar Brazoban
• Sean Manaea
• Richard Lovelady

MORE: Terrance Gore's son honors dad with perfect first pitch

This all has to do with how much each guy pitched over the weekend. The Mets weren't helped by having an extra inning game mixed in, either. That just adds more pitches for the staff to throw.

It feels like the Mets could've moved off of Lovelady with a roster decision to bring in a different arm, but apparently they aren't overly concerned.

Holmes would love to handle a bunch of innings by himself and make the bullpen less of an issue, but in his first start of the season, the Mets will surely be careful with his pitch count.

That will raise the importance of Tobias Myers, the former starter who is currently operating in a long-relief role. Whatever innings Holmes can't cover early on will likely go to Myers.

If Holmes and Myers can get seven innings between them, or even six-plus, that would go a long way toward getting New York a win in St. Louis.

More MLB news:

• Wrigley Field wind impacted potential HR by more than 100 feet
• Aaron Judge ties Dodgers legend on MLB all-time record list
• Emerson Hancock has feat for Mariners not done since Felix Hernandez perfect game
• Reds make umpire CB Bucknor look bad with ABS challenges
• This New York Times crossword clue is bizarre for baseball fans
• Blue Jays set all-time MLB record in opening weekend of season