The Mets' difficult season hit another major obstacle Friday when starting pitcher Clay Holmes fractured his right fibula after being struck by a 111.1-mph comebacker during a 5-2 loss to the Yankees in the Subway Series opener. Spencer Jones' line drive caught Holmes in the fourth inning. Manager Carlos Mendoza said afterward, "He's going to be down a long time."

Holmes remarkably remained in the game after the play, escaping a bases-loaded jam and returning for the fifth inning. He finished with a season-high eight strikeouts in 4⅓ innings, exiting with a team-best 2.39 ERA — better than all but 14 qualified starters in baseball. It was his first start against his former team since signing a three-year contract with the Mets before last season.

The injury compounds what was already one of the worst seasons in recent memory for New York. The Mets' injured list already includes shortstop Francisco Lindor, first baseman Jorge Polanco, center fielder Luis Robert Jr., catcher Francisco Alvarez, and starter Kodai Senga. Mendoza said the team hasn't decided on a replacement, with veteran left-hander Sean Manaea and minor leaguers Jonah Tong and Jack Wenninger as the primary options.