A day after their rotation took a serious hit, the New York Mets will look to former All-Star right-hander Paul Blackburn to get things moving in the right direction when he takes on the host Pittsburgh Pirates and left-hander Bailey Falter on Saturday in the middle game of a three-game series.
The Pirates won the opener 9-1 on Friday after the Mets announced that starting right-hander Griffin Canning will miss the remainder of the season — and perhaps longer — after undergoing surgery for a ruptured left Achilles.
Canning was having a career season with a 7-3 record and a 3.77 ERA in 16 starts.
“Part of the reason we are in this position [a half-game back in the National League East] is because of him,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Friday. “So you hate to see it, but knowing the personality of [Canning], he’ll get through this one.”
Canning suffered the non-contact injury on Thursday in his start against the Atlanta Braves when he went to the ground in pain after throwing a pitch in the third inning. Canning, who was placed on the 60-day injured list, is the latest Mets pitcher to go down with an injury, joining Tylor Megill, Kodai Senga and Sean Manaea.
The Mets will have to count on pitchers such as Blackburn (0-2, 6.62 ERA) to stabilize the rotation as they look to remain in contention for the NL East title despite a recent rough stretch of 11 losses in 14 games.
Blackburn, who has made five appearances (three starts) this season after being limited by a series of medical issues, has lost his past two starts — both to the Braves. In his most recent outing, Blackburn lasted only 4 2/3 innings and gave up three runs on six hits and three walks while striking out five on 95 pitches. He has never faced the Pirates.
Falter, who is 1-3 with a 3.33 ERA in seven career appearances (six starts) against the Mets, will pitch against New York for the second time this season.
In his first outing on May 14 at Citi Field, Falter was pulled early after walking five batters and throwing 78 pitches in 3 2/3 innings. However, Falter did not allow a run that day — he gave up three hits and struck out three — as Pittsburgh went on to shut out the Mets 4-0.
Falter (6-3, 3.59) matched that season-high for walks in his start last Sunday against the Texas Rangers. Falter gave up three runs on six hits, striking out one over 5 1/3 innings in a game the Pirates won 8-3.
For all the tough luck Pittsburgh’s starters have had this season, it’s often been a different story with Falter as the Pirates are 9-7 when he starts and have won seven of his past nine outings.
While Falter has been getting the wins, his results have declined in June following an amazing May.
After going 3-0 with an 0.76 ERA over six starts (35 2/3 innings) in May, Falter has struggled in four starts this month. Despite going 2-0 with two no-decisions, Falter has a 5.12 ERA in 19 1/3 innings with 10 strikeouts and nine walks. He has allowed 11 earned runs, including three home runs.
“I haven’t liked the way I’ve been throwing the ball recently so I have a lot to learn and go over,” Falter said. “It’s probably that time of the season, honestly.”