Noah Syndergaard has not been quite Thor this season. We’ve seen him struggle a number of times, and he would seemingly melt down just at a time when you thought he was going to figure things out. There have been a number of explanations provided with Syndergaard himself seeming to blame the new ball.

Whatever the case, Syndergaard has struggled and one of the reasons why is he just didn’t have that same slider. With him not having his slider, Syndergaard has undergone the process of reinventing himself as a pitcher. As Syndergaard put it, “I’m still trying to find that slider, but it’s forcing me to continue to develop other pitches.” Those pitches have become his four seamer and his curveball.

For the first time all year, Syndergaard looked comfortable with not just those pitches but his altered repertoire. As comfortable as he looked, the Rockies looked all the more uncomfortable against Syndergaard. Really, that lineup had no chance against him. The only hit against him would be a second inning single by Nolan Arenado, which was tipped by Adeiny Hechavarria.

In total, only three Rockies would reach base against Syndergaard, and none of them would get past first. Things were going so well for Syndergaard, the pitcher who is perennially incapable of holding on base runners, he picked Trevor Story off first base in the first inning.

Syndergaard’s final line was 7.0 innings, one hit, no runs, two walks, and eight strikeouts.

This is reminiscent of the Syndergaard of 2016. That Syndergaard was an ace, and as we remember, he went toe-to-toe with Madison Bumgarner for seven innings in the Wild Card Game. Truth be told, Syndergaard outpitched Bumgarner over those seven innings.

If the Mets are getting that pitcher back, it’s a game changer. With him pitching like that and with Jacob deGrom beginning to rediscover his Cy Young form, this will look like a much different Mets team. It will look like a pitching dominant team who can win the division and go deep into the postseason. That’s how important a Syndergaard transformation is, and that is why it is the Neon Moment of the Week!

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