When things were starting to look a little brighter for the Mets’ rotation, Thursday night brought that all-too-familiar gut punch. Griffin Canning, who’s been a steady, no-nonsense contributor on the mound, hit the turf in the third inning with what looked like a serious, non-contact injury.
We’ve all seen enough sports to know: when a guy drops like that without anyone touching him, alarm bells start blaring. Achilles. The word nobody wants to hear. And it’s not just the fans in Queens raising their eyebrows—the Mets’ broadcast wasn’t shy about drawing comparisons to Tyrese Haliburton’s similar injury scare in the NBA Finals. You hate to speculate, but the signs are there, and manager Carlos Mendoza didn’t dance around it postgame, either. They think it is the Achilles.
A Reliable Arm in a Fragile Rotation
This wasn’t just any guy eating innings—Canning came into Thursday’s game with a 3.91 ERA over 15 starts. Not flashy, not headline-grabbing, but solid. Dependable. A middle-rotation workhorse who kept the Mets in ballgames. He’s the kind of pitcher who doesn’t get much airtime on highlight reels but quietly builds the foundation of a staff. The type of guy managers trust.
And let’s not forget, this rotation has already been through the wringer. Frankie Montas just made his return. Kodai Senga is finally working his way back after missing nearly all of 2024. Clay Holmes was another offseason investment. The pieces were—slowly but surely—starting to come together. Now? It’s like knocking over a stack of dominoes. Canning goes down, and the stress creeps back into every corner of the clubhouse.
Achilles Injury Would Be a Season-Changer
If what the team fears is valid —that it’s an Achilles tear —we’re talking about a significant recovery. Surgery. Months on the shelf. Likely going to be out for the season. This isn’t something a pitcher bounces back from in a few weeks. It’s grueling. Mentally and physically.
And for a guy on a one-year deal? The stakes are even higher. This was Canning’s platform year—a chance to prove himself, maybe earn a longer-term deal and establish his place as a dependable starter. That’s all in jeopardy now.
The Mets’ Rotation Can’t Afford Another Hit
So now, the Mets are back in the same familiar spot: scrambling. Who steps up? Who fills the gap? They’ve already tapped into depth, leaned on young arms, and juggled assignments to keep things afloat. The timing couldn’t be worse.
What should’ve been a stretch of renewed hope with Montas and Senga rejoining the fold is suddenly another uphill climb. And if the early diagnosis holds, Griffin Canning’s loss won’t just be felt every fifth day—it’ll be a season-long storyline.
