Clay Holmes fractures fibula in loss to Yankees in latest Mets injury nightmare

Apparently no one is safe on the Mets roster.
Clay Holmes, one of the few bright spots in an ugly Mets season, was drilled by a Spencer Jones comebacker in the top of the fourth Friday and suffered a fractured right fibula that will sideline him indefinitely.
Manager Carlos Mendoza said Holmes would be “down for a long time.”
The play happened when Jones led off the top of the fourth.
Holmes finished the inning and got an out in the fifth before being removed in a 5-2 loss at Citi Field.
“It’s a huge blow,’’ Mendoza said. “He’s been one of the most consistent guys we have in that rotation. It’s a big blow.”
To Mendoza’s point, Friday was the first time Holmes allowed more than two runs in his nine starts this season.
The rotation has already been impacted by the loss of Kodai Senga to lumbar spine inflammation, as well as ineffectiveness by left-handers David Peterson —who has been pitching in a bulk role — and Sean Manaea, who’s in the bullpen.
New York Mets pitcher Clay Holmes (35) has a trainer look at him during the fourth inning when the New York Mets played the New York Yankees Friday, May 15, 2026 at Citi Field in Queens, NY. Robert Sabo for NY Post
Notified of Holmes’ injury, Jones expressed shock.
“I didn’t know that,’’ Jones said. “I’m sorry. He’s a friend of mine.”
Jones said the two work out at the same gym in Nashville, Tenn., during the offseason.
“It’s tough to hear,’’ Jones said.
Without Holmes, the Mets will need another arm.
Jonah Tong has struggled with Triple-A Syracuse, with a 5.68 ERA in nine starts and he allowed seven runs- six earned- in just 1 ²/₃ innings in his last outing.
Right-hander Jack Wenninger, 24, has been the best pitcher for Syracuse, with a 1.08 ERA in seven starts this season. He hasn’t given up a run in any of his previous three starts.
Whomever the Mets call upon, they’ll unlikely be able to fill Holmes’ shoes.
In his second season as a starting pitcher after pitching in the Yankees bullpen, Holmes was a candidate for the All-Star Game, with a 1.86 ERA in his first eight starts this year.
But that all changed with the Jones comebacker.
New York Mets pitcher Clay Holmes is taken out of the game during the fifth inning during the Subway Series at Citi Field on Friday, May 15, 2026. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
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“It’s really sad,’’ Juan Soto said of Holmes’ injury. “It’s part of the game. We’re gonna support him. It just sucks. .. We have to keep our heads up and keep moving forward. We’re gonna miss Clay.”
They’ve already missed Soto due to a strained calf and are still missing Francisco Lindor, who also suffered a calf strain.
Key offseason additions Luis Robert Jr. and Jorge Polanco, off to bad starts in Queens, are also on the IL with no expectation they’ll be back soon.
The lineup has been revived by rookies Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing, but a Mets team that was already rattled by injuries and underperformance will now be without their top pitcher for the foreseeable future in what’s already been a long season at Citi Field.




