Speaking to reporters after Friday night’s 4-1 loss to the Pirates, manager Terry Collins emphatically said that Noah Syndergaard will remain in the rotation.
“I like him a lot… Right now, he’s not going anywhere,” Collins said. “He’ll go back out there in five days, and we will see how he does.”
Syndergaard pitched solidly against the Bucs and better than his numbers would indicate. He allowed three earned runs on seven hits and struck out five in six innings.
However, the hard-throwing righty was on the wrong side of some very questionable calls by the official scorer at PNC Park. And of course, the offense did little in the way of run support as well.
“I thought he pitched a nice game. We didn’t help him for sure,” Collins said. “He pitched better than what the game looked like.”
Syndergaard, 22, is now 1-2 after three starts with a 3.63 ERA. In 17.1 innings pitched, he has struck out 16 batters while walking five. He has certainly showed that he belongs in the big-league rotation.
When told that he would remain in the rotation after tonight’s game, Syndergaard was happy with the decision.
“I’m glad to stay here,” Syndergaard said. “I feel I’ve had some pretty good success here and I’m looking forward to making my next start.”
Collins indicated that Thor would make his next start on Wednesday against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citi Field.
As for Dillon Gee, the team is planning to use a six-man rotation for now, and an official decision will be announced on Saturday before the game.
Thor is here to stay.
