PITTSBURGH -- The dominance from the Mets’ starting rotation has been one of MLB’s biggest surprises during the first half of the season. Yet due to injuries, despite the unit holding on to the lowest ERA (3.18) across the league, the current rotation is almost unrecognizable to the one they had even a couple weeks ago.
The organization got even more bad news Friday morning.
In the hours leading up to New York’s 9-1 loss to the Pirates at PNC Park, the team’s worst fears were confirmed when an MRI revealed a ruptured left Achilles for right-handed pitcher Griffin Canning, ending his 2025 season.
Canning was injured on a non-contact play during the top of the third inning in New York’s Thursday night victory over Atlanta. After inducing a ground ball to the infield, Canning stepped off the mound and immediately went to the ground in pain. He underwent surgery on Friday and was placed on the 60-day injured list.
Canning’s injury is just the latest in what has been an increasingly unlucky stretch for a Mets rotation that has seen righties Tylor Megill (right elbow strain) and Kodai Senga (right hamstring strain) sidelined, joining lefty Sean Manaea (strained right oblique, loose body in left elbow) who hasn't pitched this season, on the injured list.
After signing a one-year deal with the Mets in December, Canning was in the midst of the best season of his six-year career, posting a 7-3 record with a 3.77 ERA over 16 starts while striking out 70 batters over 76 1/3 innings. He earned a spot in New York’s rotation after a strong Spring Training.
“It sucks, because this is a guy that had a hard year last year,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “He was tough on [himself]. He put [in] a lot of work in the offseason. We signed him, and he was very open to the information and the feedback and everything that we had to offer. And for him to not just take the information, but actually going out there and executing … he was pretty consistent for us.
“Part of the reason we are in this position [fighting with Philly for first place in the NL East] is because of him. So you hate to see it, but knowing the personality of [Canning], he’ll get through this one.”
Mendoza mentioned a timeline of nine or more months before Canning can return to the mound, but added that each case is different given the severity of the injury.
“It happens. It’s part of the game. You hate to see it,” Mendoza said. “Our medical group is excellent, one of the best in the business. We’ve seen it time after time. It’s just an unfortunate situation. A guy that wasn't even attempting to make a play -- just a freaky injury, you know?”
Manaea is expected to make a rehab outing in the near future, but Mendoza hasn’t specified when that would be. The best-case scenario would be that both Senga and Manaea return right around the July 14-17 All-Star break.
In the meantime, Friday’s outing didn't do too much to build momentum in the rotation, as New York suffered its 11th loss in the last 15 games.
David Peterson, one of New York’s most consistent arms over the past two seasons, lasted just 4 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on seven hits and three walks. It marked just the third time this season -- but second consecutive start -- in which the lefty wasn't able to get through the fifth inning.
After needing just nine pitches to get through the first, Peterson struggled to locate his fastball in the second, facing all nine Pirates batters, who struck for four runs on four hits.
“I didn't feel like I had my best command, wasn't able to execute some pitches and they took advantage,” Peterson said.
Juan Soto provided the Mets' lone run with a homer in the fourth, his 20th of the season and his 11th long ball during a scorching June. His 1.259 OPS during the month is the third-highest mark for a calendar month in Mets history, behind only Mike Piazza (July 2001 -- 1.268) and Wayne Garrett (June 1970 -- 1.351).
Mendoza will -- at least for now -- turn to rookie right-hander Blade Tidwell, New York’s 2022 second-round Draft pick out of the University of Tennessee, who was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse to take Canning’s spot in the rotation. Mendoza said he plans on taking it one start at a time with that slot in the rotation.
Tidwell -- ranked by MLB Pipeline as the Mets' No. 14 prospect -- is 0-1 with a 9.82 ERA in two starts over 7 1/3 innings at the big league level this season. His numbers for Triple-A Syracuse have been much better this year, posting a 4.76 ERA with 73 strikeouts over 62 1/3 innings in 13 games and 11 starts.