NEW YORK — The New York Mets’ already thin pitching rotation suffered another setback on Thursday night when right-hander Griffin Canning appeared to injure his Achilles during a non-contact play in the third inning of the Mets’ 4-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves.
“We are currently awaiting MRI results, but it looks like an Achilles injury,” stated Mets manager Carlos Mendoza.
Initially, the team reported Canning had sustained a left ankle injury while attempting to field a ground ball hit by Nick Allen to the shortstop.
Canning, 29, had an impressive outing, allowing only one hit and striking out three before going down. He instinctively began hopping on his right leg before collapsing to the ground with his left leg raised. Mets catcher Luis Torrens summoned medical assistance while Allen was subsequently thrown out at first by Francisco Lindor.
“I was observing the play, and suddenly he was on the ground. It felt unsettling,” remarked Mendoza.
Canning covered his face with his hands as team trainers attended to him. Mendoza and fellow Mets infielders gathered around while Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. looked on from the on-deck circle.
After a few tense moments, Canning was helped off the field, leaning on the athletic trainers for support.
“Seeing him in pain like that, with his leg raised and unable to stand, clearly something was seriously wrong,” said Mets first baseman Pete Alonso. “It’s tough to witness.”
Austin Warren came in to relieve Canning and managed to retire Acuña on a pop-out, effectively stranding White at second base. Warren’s strong performance included 2⅓ innings of one-hit relief.
“The adrenaline kicked in immediately,” Warren shared.
Canning, who joined the Mets on a one-year $4.25 million deal on December 19, has had a solid season, boasting a record of 7-3 with a 3.77 ERA across 16 starts. This follows a less impressive 6-13 record with a 5.19 ERA during his last season with the Los Angeles Angels.
“It’s a tough blow, especially considering how critical he’s been to our season and the consistency he’s shown,” Mendoza commented.
Canning is the third starting pitcher from the Mets’ Opening Day rotation to face injury in the last two weeks, a rough patch for New York, which has gone just 4-10 during this stretch.
Mets ace Kodai Senga is currently on the injured list due to a right hamstring strain sustained on June 12, while Tylor Megill hasn’t pitched since June 14 due to a right elbow sprain.
Additionally, left-handed pitcher Sean Manaea, who seemed on the verge of returning from an oblique injury, was diagnosed with a bone chip in his elbow following a recent rehab outing for Triple-A Syracuse last Friday.
Mendoza, alongside president of baseball operations David Stearns, remains hopeful that Manaea, who received a cortisone injection, will continue his rehab next week.
The Mets did see a bit of relief when Frankie Montas returned on Tuesday, throwing five scoreless innings after recovering from a lat injury incurred during spring training.
“After losing two starters so quickly with Senga and Megill, now we find ourselves facing this setback with Griffin,” Mendoza remarked. “We have reinforcements on the way, and others will need to rise to the occasion.”