Griffin

Canning

Canning tossed a scoreless first inning, then gave up a run on a walk and two hits in the second. He settled in nicely, going three more scoreless frames, leaving after five with six strikeouts. It was Canning’s best start since giving up one run over five innings in his first start of the season on May 3. The 30-year-old right-hander will take a 6.34 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, and a 33/17 K/BB ratio across 32 2/3 innings into a start against the Orioles in Baltimore on Friday.

Canning struck out three and walked two. His ERA on the year is an unsightly 7.16, but 12 of those runs came in two of his first three starts since returning from last year’s Achilles injury. Canning has responded with three straight starts where he’s allowed exactly three earned runs. His estimators say he hasn’t been as bad as his ERA suggests, but he still isn’t a recommended fantasy option going forward. He’ll face his former team, the Mets, in his next start.

Canning was burned by the long ball in this one, despite limiting Philadelphia to just three hits into the seventh inning. Unfortunately, two of those left the yard, as Kyle Schwarber drilled a first-inning solo homer and Brandon Marsh added a seventh-inning blast, accounting for all of the damage against him. He struck out five and issued three walks, delivering back-to-back respectable outings on the heels of blow ups against the Cardinals and Brewers earlier this month. He’ll square off against the Nationals in a road matchup to close out a two-start week on Sunday.

Canning served up a two-run homer to Freddie Freeman in the first inning, then settled in for three more scoreless frames. The Dodgers would bring a third run home on a double and two groundouts in the fifth. That would be it for Canning, ending his day with five strikeouts. The 30-year-old right-hander holds a 9.00 ERA, 1.81 WHIP, and a 19/10 K/BB ratio across 16 innings. He’ll take on the Phillies in San Diego on Monday.

Canning walked four in a row with one out in what ended up being a three-run first inning. Control wasn’t his issue in the second, but he gave up four hits and three runs before being replaced by Ron Maranaccio with two outs. After a successful debut against the White Sox on May 3, Canning has allowed 12 runs over six innings his last two times out. He was pretty unlucky in his previous start against the Cardinals, but he definitely made his own luck today. If he’s not better next week against the Dodgers, the Padres might have to try something different.

All of the runs came in the fifth, when Canning gave up four singles, a double and two walks before departing. The big blow was JJ Wetherholt’s groundball single to right with the bases loaded. Fernando Tatis Jr. was anticipating throwing out the runner from second at the plate, but instead the ball rolled under his glove for a Little League grand slam. Canning struck out five and allowed just two hits and no walks through four. This leaves him with a 6.75 ERA after two starts, but he’s pitched better than that suggests. He’ll face the Brewers next.

Canning left with a two-run lead, but since that was blown in the seventh, he didn’t get the victory. The Padres did prevail in the end, though. Canning allowed three hits, walked three and struck out seven. He averaged 94.7 mph with his fastball, up from 94.1 mph in his 16 starts with the Mets before he blew out of his Achilles’ tendon last season. He might offer a little mixed-league value in a nice situation for pitchers in San Diego. He’ll face St. Louis next time out.

As expected, Canning will make his Padres’ debut on Sunday against the White Sox. He only threw 15 innings over five minor league rehab starts at Triple-A El Paso, so it’s possible that his workload could be limited initially upon his return. German Marquez (forearm) was placed on the 15-day injured list in a corresponding move on Sunday.

Randy Vasquez, who had been scheduled to start on Sunday, will get pushed back to Monday. That also means that Matt Waldron will get bumped from the Padres’ rotation entirely. Canning, 29, has been working his way back from last year’s Achilles injury. He posted a 3.60 ERA, 1.67 WHIP and an 18/12 K/BB ratio over 15 innings in five minor league rehab starts at Triple-A El Paso.

The Padres have a decision to make since Canning’s 30-day rehab assignment window is up at the end of the weekend. The 29-year-old, who is working his way back from last year’s Achilles injury, completed five innings during his fifth rehab outing earlier this week at Triple-A El Paso. It’s unclear whether he would be pitching in relief initially or jump into San Diego’s rotation mix. There should be some clarity on his status and role at some point before the weekend wraps up.