Mets make roster move after placing Clay Holmes on IL

The New York Mets on Saturday placed right-hander Clay Holmes on the 15-day injured list with a fractured right fibula suffered during Friday’s 5-2 loss to the New York Yankees. To fill the open roster spot, the team recalled right-handed reliever Joey Gerber from Triple-A Syracuse.

Holmes was injured in the fourth inning when he was struck by a 111.1-mph line drive off the bat of Yankees rookie Spencer Jones. Despite the impact, the 33-year-old remained in the game and faced seven more batters before exiting in the fifth inning. X-rays later revealed the fracture.

Manager Carlos Mendoza described the injury as a “huge blow” and said Holmes is expected to be “down for a long time.” Mendoza did add that the organization expects Holmes to return this season, though he declined to provide a precise recovery timetable. The manager said the current focus is allowing the fracture to heal, a process estimated at roughly six to eight weeks before Holmes can begin a throwing program. Mendoza also confirmed there are currently no plans for surgery.

Before the injury, Holmes had been on the best run of his starting career. He owns a 4-4 record with a 2.39 ERA through nine starts this season. His Friday appearance against New York was his weakest performance this season, as he allowed four runs, seven hits, and two walks while pitching 4.1 innings with eight strikeouts. Across his MLB career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Yankees, and Mets, Holmes has posted a 40-34 record with a 3.53 ERA in 353 appearances, including 44 starts.

Gerber returns to Queens after previously making one appearance for New York this season on April 13 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. In that outing, the 29-year-old threw two scoreless innings, allowing two hits and one walk while striking out five. Shortly after, he landed on the injured list with a right finger blister before returning to Triple-A.

Acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays during the offseason in a cash deal, Gerber owns a career 3.27 ERA and 1.091 WHIP across 20 major league appearances with the Seattle Mariners, Rays, and Mets. At Triple-A Syracuse this season, he recorded a 10.0-inning sample across nine relief outings, allowing nine earned runs with nine strikeouts and four walks.

Another bullpen wrinkle emerged for New York on Saturday, with veteran reliever Luke Jackson reportedly choosing to opt out of his minor league contract.

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