I wanted to update this post with some new information from Adam Rubin of ESPN New York who writes:
“The Mets are beginning a stretch of 20 games in 20 days on Friday in Philly. While noncommittal so far, the Mets could use a spot starter during that stretch if the rotation’s workload is taxing, with Syndergaard perhaps the leading candidate over Steven Matz.”
Syndergaard, as you can read in my own report below, is on a remarkable stretch in his last three starts, allowing just 11 hits and two walks while striking out 27 in 22.0 innings pitched.
Jared Diamond of the Wall Street Journal tweeted out that Syndergaard will be on regular rest Tuesday, May 12 in Chicago; Sunday, May 17 vs. Milwaukee; and Friday, May 22 in Pittsburgh.
Sandy Alderson already admitted last month that there would be a good chance that either Matz or Syndergaard could make the next spot start for the Mets rather than Rafael Montero. So if we see one of them this month, it shouldn’t be that much of a surprise with the way both are pitching right now.
So looking forward to it too… These two are big-league ready…
May 7
On the strength of his third consecutive pitching gem, Mets prospect Noah Syndergaard carried the Las Vegas 51s to their 14th straight victory as they beat the Albuquerque Isotopes by a score of 8-2. The 14 wins are a franchise record.
Syndergaard tossed five scoreless innings before getting touched up for a run in the sixth and another in the seventh.
In all, Syndergaard allowed two runs on five hits in eighth innings. He walked none and struck out eight, improving his record to 3-0 with a 1.82 ERA. Of His 95 pitches, 70 of them were strikes.
Just as impressive was Thor’s performance at the plate where he fell a triple short of the cycle, going 3-for-3 with a single, double and home run. Thor scored a pair and drove in two.
Syndergaard’s fastball velocity was consistently in the high 90’s and he was still clocking at 98 mph in his final inning of work.
During Thor’s last start, a scout who was on hand told Andy Martino of the Daily News, “Best I have ever seen him pitch. I think he’s ready.”
Both Syndergaard and Steven Matz continue to push the envelope down in Vegas and sooner or later the Mets will have to make some important decisions.
Unless a trade or an injury creates some room on the major league rotation, the Mets will have no motivation to promote either of them permanently before the Super 2 cutoff estimated to be around June 21. Although either of them could make a spot start and return to Las Vegas afterward.
For now, just keep enjoying the ride as these two continue to deliver one standout performance after another.
