Carlos Mendoza hints at who could replace Griffin Canning in Mets rotation

Carlos Mendoza knows that Griffin Canning’s injury doesn’t just cost the New York Mets a pitcher—it creates a significant hole in a rotation that had been relatively stable, though still dealing with depth concerns.

In his latest comments to reporters, Mendoza said the leading candidate to replace Canning is Blade Tidwell, who could step into the rotation while the team waits for Canning to recover.

“As of right now we’re looking at him,” Mendoza said about Tidwell. The Mets may turn to him despite the fact that this is his rookie season and he’s only made two starts so far in the majors—his ERA hasn’t been ideal.

How Good is Tidwell?

This year has been challenging for Blade Tidwell, who is making his MLB debut with the Mets. So far, he has surrendered 12 earned runs in just three appearances, placing him in a precarious position regarding his usage by manager Carlos Mendoza.

Tidwell’s only “good” outing this year came against the Phillies, where he allowed just two runs. It was also his second time this season throwing 3.2 innings on the mound, and he delivered two strikeouts, marking the most in a single game of his young MLB career.

When Could Canning Return?

There is no official return date for Griffin Canning. He was recently announced as being placed on the 60-day injured list, and Canning himself posted a message on Instagram stating it was “a truly unfortunate way to end the season.”