NEW YORK — The New York Mets' depleted pitching rotation took another hit Thursday night when right-hander Griffin Canning likely suffered an Achilles injury during a non-contact play in the third inning of a 4-0 win over the Atlanta Braves.
''He's getting an MRI, we're waiting for the result — but it looks like an Achilles injury,'' Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said.
The Mets initially said Canning suffered a left ankle injury when he was hurt while breaking toward the left side of the infield on Nick Allen's one-out grounder to shortstop.
The 29-year-old Canning, who allowed one hit and struck out three Thursday, immediately began hopping on his right leg and took only a couple steps before dropping onto the field with his left leg elevated. Catcher Luis Torrens signaled for time and assistance before Allen was thrown out at first by Francisco Lindor.
''I was watching the play and before you know it, I see him on the ground,'' Mendoza said. ''Not a good feeling there.''
Canning covered his face with his hands as he was tended to by trainers. Mendoza and Mets infielders gathered around the pitcher as the Braves' Ronald Acuña Jr., the on-deck hitter, watched from a few steps behind.
After a couple minutes, Canning limped off the field with his arms draped around trainers.
''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,'' Mets first baseman Pete Alonso said. ''Hate to see it.''
