With just over a dozen games remaining in the 2016 MLB season, every game is crucial. Noah Syndergaard had a rough game Monday night, as the Atlanta Braves handled him with ease, defeating the Mets by a score of 7-3.
Syndergaard lasted just 3.2 innings while allowing eight hits and five runs. He walked three on the night while striking out five, taking the loss. The Atlanta Braves continue to be a thorn in the Mets side.
“It stings a little bit,” Syndergaard said. “In these last two weeks every win is critical and I’m disappointed. I didn’t go out there and get my job done. I’ve just got to learn from it and move on.” (NY Post)
With the Mets currently having a slate of games left against teams who are .500 or below, they must feast on these lesser opponents. They hold on to a one game lead in the Wild Card standings at this point and need to get right back on the horse Tuesday night to keep the Cardinals and Giants at bay.
Syndergaard is now 13-9 on the season with an ERA of 2.63. His WHIP stands at 1.16 on the season. Manager, Terry Collins reminded everyone after Monday’s loss that there are no guarantees in baseball.
“If there’s one game we’ve played in a long time that demonstrates there’s no guarantees in baseball, this was it,” Collins said.
The Mets cannot afford to lose games at this point of the year but it is also not realistic that they will win them all. The team has put themselves in a good position to make consecutive postseason appearances, they now need to close the deal.
