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SAN DIEGO — If Clay Holmes is trying to become a post-trade-deadline bullpen addition for the Mets, he sure appears on the right track. 

The converted reliever was something of a success story for much of the season’s first half, but his results as a starter lately scream for the team to consider charting a different course — whether that be in a trade before Thursday’s deadline or giving a top prospect such as Nolan McLean or Brandon Sproat an opportunity. 

Holmes on Wednesday turned in his shortest start of the season, failing to complete the fourth inning in a 5-0 loss at Petco Park that completed a three-game Padres sweep. So much for the promise this West Coast trip held for the Mets after they swept the Giants three games over the weekend. 

Holmes allowed four runs, two of which were unearned, on eight hits, two walks and two hit batters over 3 ²/₃ innings. He’s pitched to a 4.90 ERA in six July starts and hasn’t completed six innings in any of them. 

“Physically, I feel good,” Holmes said when asked about his concern he might be sent to the bullpen. “There is still some good in it. I am not pitching to what I am capable of, I feel like. But the stuff I feel like is there and I feel like I am still recovering well. I am very capable of pitching deeper into games and helping this team as a starter.” 

Holmes added that team officials haven’t spoken to him about potentially moving to the bullpen, and manager Carlos Mendoza said the team remains committed to Holmes as a starter. 

“I am not concerned,” Mendoza said. “He’s been good for us and he’s going to continue to do that. It’s just one start today where he didn’t have the sinker I felt arm side. We didn’t make a play … It was just a struggle today for him overall, but he’s been pretty consistent for us. 

“I truly believe he is going to continue to help us. There is a lot to like there. He’s going to be a big part of this team. He’s going to continue to get the ball, and then we are counting on him.” 

On a day the Mets added to their bullpen by acquiring Tyler Rogers and Ryan Helsley in trades with the Giants and Cardinals, Holmes — who arrived last offseason on a three-year contract worth $38 million — looked ready for a break from the rotation. 

Adding to the day’s misery on the field, the Mets managed only three hits in getting dominated by Yu Darvish and the Padres bullpen. Juan Soto did not play after leaving the previous night’s game with a left foot contusion from a foul ball. 

Holmes got two quick outs in the second, but then proceeded to load the bases before Manny Machado stroked a two-run single to put the Mets in a 2-0 hole. Holmes allowed a single to Martín Maldonado in the inning before drilling Fernando Tatis Jr. and walking Luis Arraez to load the bases. 

Francisco Lindor’s throwing error led to the Padres adding two unearned runs in the third. Jose Iglesias reached on Lindor’s errant throw with two outs and Gavin Sheets followed with a two-run homer that extended the lead to 4-0. Holmes allowed two additional singles in the inning, but, with Reed Garrett warming up in the bullpen, retired Arraez for the final out. 

Holmes surrendered a two-out single to Xander Bogaerts in the fourth and plunked Jake Cronenworth, ending his outing. Garrett entered and needed only two pitches to retire Iglesias for the final out. 

Offensively, the Mets couldn’t accomplish much against Darvish. Mark Vientos singled in the first inning and that served as the team’s only base runner until Ronny Mauricio delivered a two-out single in the fifth. 

Darvish struck out seven over seven shutout innings and allowed only two hits. The Mets scored only one run in the final two games of the series combined.