BOSTON — The nightmare start to Griffin Canning’s season continued Saturday.
The Angels right-hander gave up seven runs in four innings in a 7-2 loss to the Boston Red Sox, raising his ERA to 9.88 after three starts.
“Not really sure,” Canning said when asked to explain the rough start to his season. “I can’t really seem to miss some bats or get some balls hit to our guys. Sometimes it’s just baseball.”
Canning has now allowed 15 earned runs in 13 2/3 innings.
“This is the game we play,” Canning said. “It’s tough sometimes when you go through it, but it’s going to feel good once we get out of it.”
It’s been a disappointing start for a pitcher who pitched well most of last season, after returning from a back injury that cost him half of 2021 and all of 2022.
One issue has been Canning’s command. He’s thrown too many pitches in the middle of the zone, including a changeup that Triston Casas drilled 429 feet for a two-run homer in the first inning Saturday.
“I just think he’s been leaving too much out over the plate,” Angels manager Ron Washington said. “We haven’t been making some pitches in some situations and the results were what they were today.”
By the time his four innings were over, Canning had given up nine hits. The only consolation was that he didn’t walk anyone while striking out six. He threw 73% of his 70 pitches for strikes, which is a well above-average ratio.
Canning’s velocity, however, continued to be a couple ticks down from last year. He averaged 94.7 mph with his fastball in 2023. His fastball averaged 92.5 mph Saturday, which is about what it’s been in all three games.
“There’s always concern when you have a guy that can throw the ball at a higher rate – 94, 95, 96 – and he’s not maintaining that,” Washington said. “But he’s having no issues. He says he’s fine. It’s just a matter of working out the situation that he’s in, just trying to hit his spots.”
Canning insisted leading up to Saturday’s game and reiterated afterward that he is not injured.
“I feel good,” Canning said. “The hitters will tell you. Just got to keep working and get better.”
The Angels juggled their rotation before this start, giving Canning extra days while keeping Reid Detmers on his turn. It allowed Canning to throw a second bullpen session between starts, but the results were no better.
Canning’s rough start put the Angels in a 4-0 hole after one inning and a 6-0 deficit after two.
“He tried to battle after that, but by that time, they just got too far out front even for our offense to try to catch up,” Washington said.
Related Articles
Angels’ Taylor Ward enjoying hot start to 2024
Angels’ Reid Detmers picks up 3rd straight win with scoreless outing against Red Sox
Angels’ Griffin Canning looks to use extra rest to turn around slow start
Angels weigh in on current rash of injuries to major-league pitchers
Angels’ José Soriano can’t escape early hole in 1st career start
The Angels (7-7) had an early opportunity to get back in the game, loading the bases in the second. Zach Neto grounded out to end the inning.
In the third, Taylor Ward hit a two-run homer, his fifth homer of the season.
First baseman Nolan Schanuel left the game after fouling a ball off his groin area in the third inning. He was diagnosed with a testicular contusion. Washington said Schanuel won’t play Sunday and won’t need to go on the injured list.
