ST. LOUIS — For a few fleeting moments, it seemed as if St. Louis Cardinals finally caught a break.

They entered play Tuesday a season-worst five games under .500. But the Cardinals’ lifeless offense sprang into action early, tagging New Mets starter José Buttó for three runs in the first inning and providing a much-needed spark for both the dugout and the home crowd.

Just a few minutes later, that spark was promptly snuffed out.

After doubling and scoring a run in the first inning, Willson Contreras — arguably the Cardinals’ most valuable player this season — was struck squarely on the left arm by the swing of Mets’ designated hitter J.D. Martinez in the top of the second. It was clear something was terribly wrong on impact. Contreras fell to the ground and screamed while clutching his forearm. Manager Oli Marmol and head trainer Adam Olsen rushed onto the field. As Contreras sat near the dugout, writhing in pain, an unnerving hush settled over Busch Stadium. No good news was coming out of this scene.

X-rays revealed a fractured left arm for Contreras. He’ll undergo surgery and is looking at a recovery timeline of six to eight weeks. He was optimistic and in relatively good spirits after the game, all things considered, and hopeful to return to the majors before the All-Star break.

But make no mistake: Losing Contreras is about as bad as it gets for a Cardinals team that can’t afford to lose much else.

Willson Contreras will leave this game after taking a J.D. Martinez swing to his left arm. pic.twitter.com/mJfiqOBf4t

— Bally Sports Midwest (@BallySportsMW) May 8, 2024

“This is the most pain I’ve been through, for sure,” Contreras said after the game. “I knew right away it was a bad situation.”

With his left arm wrapped and in a sling, Contreras was adamant he was not blaming Martinez for where he was set up in the batter’s box, nor would he have changed his own position behind the plate. As the importance of framing — or “stealing strikes” — becomes more relevant, teams and catchers have started receiving pitches as close to the plate as possible. The Cardinals are no exception and moved Contreras to the back edge of the batter’s box when he first took over behind the plate before the 2023 season. Over the offseason, there was a further emphasis on his set-up behind the plate to improve his framing on pitches low in the strike zone. Contreras showed dramatic improvement this year and he did not blame his injury on where he was positioned.

“There’s always a risk being a catcher,” Contreras said. “Could have been something different. It could’ve been off my knee, it could be a concussion. That risk is always going to be there. I’m not blaming any part of my game because this happened tonight. When I get back, I’m going to try to be the same guy behind the plate.”

Reserve catcher Iván Herrera will take over primary duties behind the plate in Contreras’ absence. Pedro Pagés, who has appeared in five games for St. Louis this season, was en route from Triple-A Memphis on Tuesday night and is expected to be activated as the team’s backup catcher ahead of Wednesday’s game. Herrera has made strides defensively and leaned on Contreras as a mentor throughout the season. This will be his first stint as an everyday catcher in the major leagues.

“He’s matured a lot,” Contreras said. “He’s only 23 years old and he has a lot to learn, but the one thing I like about him is that he’s always willing to listen, always asking something. That’s going to make him better.”

The larger — and much more unclear — question is how the Cardinals will replace Contreras’ invaluable offensive production. He was the lone bright spot amid one of baseball’s worst offenses. The Cardinals have struggled to score this season. They have the fewest home runs in the National League (25) and the third-lowest OPS (.636). Contreras and his .280/.352/.464 clip and team-high six home runs have been responsible for most of the lineup’s production. With several Cardinals hitters underperforming — including the heart of the order — there is no immediate answer regarding who can replace the Contreras-sized hole in their lineup.

“I feel for him because there was a lot of work that went into (his season),” Marmol said. “He was doing a nice job behind the plate, framing, all of it. His offensive numbers were really good. It’s something we’re going to have to overcome.”

The Cardinals lost on Tuesday night, 7-5. A six-run fifth inning by the Mets sealed their fate. They are six games under .500 and in last place in their division.

And still, none of that comes close to being without their All-Star catcher for the foreseeable future. Losing Contreras was their biggest loss of all.

(Photo of Willson Contreras: Jeff Curry / USA Today)