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The New York Mets’ starting rotation took a tough hit on Friday night.
Starting pitcher Clay Holmes broke his right leg after being smoked by a 111 mph line drive from New York Yankees designated hitter Spencer Jones in the Mets’ 5-2 loss at Citi Field.
In the top of the fourth inning, with the Mets trailing 3-0, Jones returned Holmes’ 94 mph sinker. The ball bounced off Holmes’ leg into foul territory on the first base side. The 33-year-old pitcher ran to first base and was then checked by trainers and manager Carlos Mendoza.
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New York Mets starter Clay Holmes walks to the dugout after being dragged by manager Carlos Mendoza during the fifth inning against the New York Yankees in New York, New York, on May 15, 2026. (Yuki Iwamura/AP Photo)
Holmes remained in the game despite the fracture. His next six pitches were balls, but Holmes then recorded consecutive strikeouts and retired Aaron Judge on a bases-loaded fly ball to end a scoreless inning.
Holmes was lifted after a one-out walk in the fifth. He threw 95 pitches, including 26 while facing seven batters after being hit by Jones’ line drive.
“He said it was fine. That’s the crazy part. We went out, checked it out, threw a couple pitches and were able to finish the inning,” Mendoza said. “He came back in and didn’t even give me a chance. He said, ‘I’m good to go back out,’ and he came back out. She sent him for x-rays and this is what we’re dealing with now.”
Mendoza said those X-rays showed a fracture of the right fibula that will sideline Holmes “for a long time.”
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New York Mets pitcher Clay Holmes throws a pitch during the fifth inning against the New York Yankees at Citi Field in New York, New York, on May 15, 2026. (Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images)
“That’s the hard part to understand. He was fine, we checked him out, we finished the inning, he comes back out because he feels good. And then on the last pitch, something didn’t look right. He came out, I’m talking to him in the dugout, and he said, yeah, something didn’t feel right,” Mendoza said.
Holmes had been one of the only bright spots in what would have otherwise been a dismal season for the Mets. In nine starts, he has a 2.39 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 52 2/3 innings.
Holmes (4-4) allowed four runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings of loss, striking out eight and walking two. He entered Friday third in the National League with a 1.86 ERA.
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New York Mets catcher Luis Torrens watches the leg of pitcher Clay Holmes during the fifth inning against the New York Yankees at Citi Field in New York, New York, on May 15, 2026. (Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images)
The Mets starter signed a three-year, $38 million contract with the team as a free agent in the 2025 offseason. Holmes was a reliever with the Yankees and the Mets made him a starter, where he has been reliable.
“It’s a tough blow. He’s been one of the most consistent guys we have in our rotation,” Mendoza said.
Jones, who trains with Holmes in Nashville during the offseason, said it’s hard to hear the news.
“It’s hard to hear,” Jones said. “I hit the ball and then I saw it come back at me. It was loud.”
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New York Mets starter Clay Holmes pitches during the second inning against the New York Yankees in New York, New York, on May 15, 2026. (Yuki Iwamura/AP Photo)
“He’s a tough guy. Workhorse. Competitive. It says a lot about who he is to come out the next inning with a broken leg. It’s incredible.”
The loss left the Mets with a record of 18-26. They are in last place in the National League East and are 12.5 games behind the red-hot Atlanta Braves (31-14) for first place in the division.
The Mets will look to bounce back against the Yankees (28-17) on Saturday at 7:15 pm ET in game two of the Subway Series.
