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Mets' Clay Holmes Fractures Fibula, Goes on IL

5/18/2026

Summary

Holmes Fractures Fibula

Mets starter Clay Holmes fractured his right fibula on May 15, 2026 after a 111.1-mph comebacker by Yankees rookie Spencer Jones.
Doctors expect no surgery and place Holmes on the 15-day injured list, recalling reliever Joey Gerber.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said pitcher Christian Scott will start Monday, pitcher Nolan McLean the next game, and a bullpen arm or call-up will fill the slot.

Summary

Pitchers Undergo Surgery

Tommy Pham signed a minor-league deal with Baltimore.
José Berríos and Blake Snell will undergo surgery to remove bodies, with Berríos set for Wednesday and Snell’s return date unknown.
Trevor Story, shortstop, was placed on injured list after scans showed a sports hernia, more serious than the groin complaint.
Analyst Travis Sawchik said MLB’s average minimum fastball velocity is rising faster than the maximum, indicating pitchers are throwing harder.

History

Historical Context

In 2006 MLB’s average fastball speed rose 1.2 mph, with the Yankees posting a 94.3-mph staff and 12 pitchers over 95 mph—the most since 1995—sparking an arms race later amplified by Statcast (2020) and the 2023 pitch-clock. By 2026 that pressure produced Clay Holmes’ broken fibula and surgeries to José Berríos and Blake Snell, leading the Mets and Orioles to expand medical staff and roster depth.

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Holmes Fractures Fibula

Mets starter Clay Holmes fractured his right fibula on May 15, 2026 after a 111.1-mph comebacker by Yankees rookie Spencer Jones.
Doctors expect no surgery and place Holmes on the 15-day injured list, recalling reliever Joey Gerber.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said pitcher Christian Scott will start Monday, pitcher Nolan McLean the next game, and a bullpen arm or call-up will fill the slot.

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