LOS ANGELES — Noah Syndergaard had just staged a one-man exhibition of awe-inspiring physical skill. The tall, muscle-bound Mets righthander had just hit two home runs.
In a 4-3 win on Wednesday over the Dodgers, Syndergaard knocked in all of his team’s runs and used a fastball that touched 100 mph to dominate on the mound. He needed just 95 pitches to hold the Dodgers to two runs in eight innings, the only damage coming on a pair of solo shots.
“You kind of think to yourself we’re kind of in a different era now,” veteran second baseman Neil Walker said. “These young players come up here and what’s next? He goes out there and he’s hitting a hundred and he’s hitting home runs, at night, to the opposite field, at Dodger Stadium. Those are legendary-type things.”
Yet, manager Terry Collins knew that the 22-year-old flamethrower was finished after eight innings.
Earlier in the day, the Mets announced that Steven Matz would miss his next start with soreness in his left elbow and forearm. And for the first time, Collins publicly acknowledged Syndergaard had his right elbow examined by doctors about two weeks ago. According to ESPN.com, the pitcher was checked on May 2, one day after a start.
He was cleared, but the close call lingered with Collins. “So, for 15 more pitches?” Collins said, after summoning closer Jeurys Familia in relief of Syndergaard. “No, it didn’t even cross my mind.”
Every team endures their share of injuries, and Wednesday proved to be a busy night for the Mets. In addition to Matz’s missed start, utilityman Wilmer Flores was sent back to New York to be examined for a left hamstring injury that he said he suffered on Monday. He is expected to go on the disabled list, with lefty Sean Gilmartin slated to be called up from Triple-A Las Vegas.
“It’s frustrating but what are you going to do?” said a bleary-eyed Flores, who injured himself on Monday, then played through it on Tuesday.
But the condition only worsened and he did not play on Wednesday, when he was available only in case of an emergency. Now, he’ll join starting catcher Travis d’Arnaud on the shelf. Of course, there has been no shortage of health scares for the Mets, particularly when it comes to its high-octane pitching staff.
Matt Harvey has endured a dip in velocity. Jacob deGrom has yet to consistently show the same zip on his fastball. Matz will miss a start.
And it turns out that Syndergaard’s elbow raised a red flag, a troubling development considering evidence that there is a link between velocity and elbow injuries. When he’s not hitting 400-foot homers, Syndergaard is throwing the hardest fastball (97.8 mph) slider (91.7) and changeup (89.8) in all the big leagues.
The pitcher acknowledged the exam but offered few details. Was the test prompted by discomfort or tightness? He wouldn’t say.
Said Syndergaard: “It was just all precautionary.”
Considering Syndergaard’s elbow scare, and an exam that he said he wasn’t aware about until later, Collins said his decision to pull the fireballer on Wednesday night was easy.
“We can talk about this young pitching all we want, but we’re not going to hurt these guys for 15 more pitches in a game that’s 4-2,” Collins said, while explaining his decision. “If it was 4-0, he’s going for a shutout, if he’s going for a no-hitter, or if he’s going for 21 strikeouts, I might let him go 10 or 12 more pitches. But not in a game like tonight.”
..... - Newsday