Things are heating up in the NL East, with the Mets and Phillies locked in a fierce battle for the top spot. While the Mets are still the league toppers, the scales might be tilting against them now, with the injury list mounting. Without the elite pitchers, their pitching depth is already getting tested. Now, with Griffin Canning getting injured during the game against the Braves, fans are holding their breath. But wait, there’s a new update from the Mets camp, and it might change the mood. Well, maybe!

Griffin Canning left Thursday’s game against the Braves in the third inning because of a left ankle injury. The viral footage showed he went down awkwardly on the mound and had to be helped off the field by the trainers after throwing 2.2 innings. It has now been confirmed that Canning will undergo imaging to get a clearer picture of the nature of the injury.

“The Mets say that Griffin Canning was removed from tonight’s game with a left ankle injury. He will undergo imaging,” SNY Mets posted on X. So, he has not been ruled out for the next game yet.

Considering how he left the game, though, it’s a possibility. He was struggling to walk, and it seemed all but certain that he would miss the next few games. But the Mets fans will have their fingers crossed for the imaging results.

Even if he is out for a few games, Canning’s injury is a costly loss for the Mets. His first season in Queens has been pretty solid. He has made 16 starts so far and holds a 7-3 record with a 3.77 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. His injury will leave a significant impact on the Mets.

Kodai Senga is already on the IL with a hamstring problem, and Sean Manaea is also not certain to come back anytime soon. So, it’s going to be a challenging period ahead for the Mets, with their pitching department already struggling.

The Mets’ pitching woes are getting amplified

The Mets are ranked first in the league in terms of team ERA (3.25). But, don’t let this number fool you. Their pitching performance has spiraled downwards recently. Here’s an unwanted record. The Mets have incurred 5 runs or more in an inning eight times this season. And five of them have come in their last 11 games, reflecting the poor state of their pitching. And then there’s the bullpen, which has been stretched thin this season.

Well, with the starters struggling to go deep into games, the relievers have been called in way earlier than they should be. And that’s taking a toll. Take the series finale against the Phillies, for instance. David Peterson lasted just four innings and gave up five runs. He left the Mets scrambling in the middle of a rough fourth inning.

Amid the injuries, the Mets are now calling up the 27-year-old reliever Jonathan Pintaro to bolster their bullpen. But the continuous wear and tear of the starters is making it incredibly difficult for the team.

The bullpen meltdown of the Mets in the sixth inning of the 4-7 loss against the Braves showed what it means to play without the elite pitchers. And now that Canning is on the brink of getting sidelined, it will be fair to say the Mets’ pitching is falling apart.

The injuries, however, open the door for some new faces in the upcoming trade window. With October dream still on, external help seems to be the only way out for the Mets.