On Friday it was reported New York Mets' top prospect Noah Syndergaard would make his MLB debut on Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs. The team has a long streak of consecutive games, so it's possible Syndergaard remains with the team beyond tonight and they call up another prospect.
Manager Terry Collins said the Mets "could possibly use a spot starter in the next 20 games," according to Jared Diamond of the Wall Street Journal. Such a system would be implemented because New York has only one day off for the rest of this month (May 28th) and their next day off after that is June 8th. The goal is to give Matt Harvey and Jacob deGrom time to rest.
But when Dillon Gee hit the disabled list on May 9 with a groin issue, Syndergaard got the call and will likely remain in the rotation until Gee comes back. After that, it's possible he stays on as a spot starter depending on Gee's health. Or maybe he can be a mainstay in the rotation if he impresses.
"I'm excited to see this kid pitch, because I'm a fan," Collins told Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com. "But, first and foremost, I'm the manager of this team. And I think he's good enough to win here, or he would not be out there. This is not a show."
Syndergaard has been lights-out at Triple-A Las Vegas, going 3-0 with a 1.82 ERA, 0.944 WHIP and 34 strikeouts in five starts (29 2/3 innings). Luckily for New York they have guys such as Syndergaard and Steven Matz in their farm system to help them cope with numerous injuries. Zack Wheeler underwent Tommy John surgery before the season started; Rafael Montero hit the DL with a shoulder injury; and now Gee is out with a groin issue.
Let's not forget both Harvey and deGrom underwent Tommy John surgery at some point in their careers, so the Mets will need to keep a close eye on them to ensure they stay healthy.
Being that Collins wants a spot starter and Syndergaard is likely to remain the No. 5 until Gee returns, is it possible Matz gets the call to give other arms in the rotation some rest?
General manager Sandy Alderson said Matz was "an equally deserving candidate" to get the promotion that was given to Syndergaard, which means his MLB debut may not be too far off. The left-hander is 4-1 with a 1.70 ERA, 1.134 WHIP and 45 strikeouts in seven games (six starts), totaling 42 1/3 innings at Las Vegas. He went 10-9 with a 2.25 ERA, 1.193 WHIP and 131 strikeouts in 24 starts (140 innings) last season between Advanced Class A St. Lucie and Double-A Binghamton.
Nothing is definite at this point, and the Mets will likely have to wait after Syndergaard's start tonight to see what their plan for the time being will be. However, it's interesting to think these two prospects could be with the club in the coming weeks as other pitchers recover from injuries.
