The New York Mets claimed sole possession of first place in the National League East with a 4-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves Thursday night, but celebration was dampened by what appears to be a serious injury to pitcher Griffin Canning.
Canning collapsed during the third inning with what was initially reported as a left ankle injury. However, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza later revealed more concerning news: “He’s getting an MRI, we’re waiting for the result — but it looks like an Achilles injury.”
The 29-year-old right-hander was injured during a routine play. As Nick Allen hit a ground ball to shortstop Francisco Lindor, Canning moved toward the left side of the infield when his left leg suddenly gave out. He immediately fell to the ground in visible pain, holding his leg in the air as trainers rushed to his aid.
“See him just wincing in pain and his leg in the air — for anyone to do that, when they’re not getting up by themselves, it’s obvious, you kind of know something’s not just off but really, really wrong,” said first baseman Pete Alonso. “Hate to see it.”
Canning, who was having a strong season with a 7-3 record and a 3.77 ERA, had to be helped off the field by trainers. Before the injury, he had pitched 2⅓ innings against the Braves, allowing just one hit while striking out three batters.
The Mets’ bullpen stepped up magnificently following Canning’s exit. Austin Warren, who immediately replaced Canning, earned the win with 2⅓ innings of effective relief, allowing just one hit.
“Adrenaline kicked in right away,” Warren said of his sudden call to action.
The bullpen collective of Warren, Dedniel Núñez, Ryne Stanek, and Edwin Díaz combined for 6⅓ scoreless innings, surrendering only two hits while striking out six Braves batters.
On the offensive side, the Mets broke through in the fourth inning when Tyrone Taylor’s sacrifice fly allowed Juan Soto to score. They added another run in the fifth when Pete Alonso singled to left-center field, bringing Francisco Lindor home. Jeff McNeil drove in two more runs with a single in the seventh.
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Canning’s injury worsens an already critical situation for the Mets’ pitching rotation. He becomes the third starter from the opening day rotation to suffer a significant injury in just the past two weeks. Ace Kodai Senga has been sidelined since June 12 with a right hamstring strain, and Tylor Megill hasn’t pitched since June 14 due to a right elbow sprain.
The timing couldn’t be worse for the Mets, who had gone just 4-10 during this injury-plagued stretch before Thursday’s win.
“We lost two starters very quickly with Senga and Megill and here we are now with Griff going down,” Mendoza said. “We’ve got some reinforcements coming back. Guys will step up.”
One positive note is the recent return of Frankie Montas, who pitched five scoreless innings Tuesday after recovering from a lat injury suffered in spring training. Additionally, Sean Manaea may soon return from an oblique injury despite a recent setback involving a bone chip in his elbow.
For now, the Mets will continue with David Peterson, Paul Blackburn, and Montas for their weekend series in Pittsburgh, as they attempt to maintain their newly-earned first-place standing despite their pitching challenges.
