The Mets substantial pitching depth has paid off once again. And this time, it will result in their top organizational prospect making his big league debut.
Dillon Gee has a mild groin strain and will be placed on the disabled list, Sandy Alderson said in Philadelphia on Friday.
As such, Alderson said Noah Syndergaard will make his debut on Tuesday against the Cubs in Chicago.
Over his last three starts with Las Vegas, Syndergaard has a 0.82 ERA in 22 innings, having allowed two earned runs, 11 hits, and just two walks with 27 strikeouts.
The Mets will reshuffle their rotation, with Bartolo Colon starting on Sunday and Jacob deGrom on Monday.
Alderson said Steven Matz was a deserving candidate, and would’ve in fact be pitching on regular rest on Sunday, but Syndergaard’s experience at Triple-A.
It always seemed logical Syndergaard would get the call first over Matz. He has the innings at Double-A and higher (150-plus) whereas Matz still needs a little more than 40 innings to reach that threshold. And, Syndergaard’s performance warranted a promotion at this point. That doesn’t mean Matz doesn’t deserve it, but his time will come anyway if he continues to pitch like this as well, sooner rather than later. Remember, the 35 1/3 innings at Las Vegas are the only innings he’s thrown about Double-A.
Syndergaard is in line to make three starts in the big leagues before Gee can return from the disabled list, so they can prolong a decision about what happens with the rotation until around May 23.
The Mets still need to use a spot starter over the next 20 days. If Gee returns in two weeks, he could slot in as the sixth man in the rotation (which is around the expected date the club would consider using a sixth starter anyway).
But if Gee can’t come off the disabled list by that date, perhaps they would call up Steven Matz for that spot start, or use Rafael Montero if he is healthy and ready to go.
What happens at that point will be decided later, but it will be interesting to see what happens with Syndergaard as it relates to Gee’s spot in the rotation, especially if Syndergaard pitches well.
But back to Gee for a moment.
What a twister it’s been for him. It’s a real shame he’s been hit with this injury after pitching so well over his last three starts. It’s been an unsteady early part of the season for him, between his fluctuating role in Spring Training, competing for a job in camp over the last week, the constant trade rumors, and now the questions about whether or not he will start again for the Mets. He’s been a pro throughout, so hopefully things stabilize and work out for him, whatever his fate ends up being.
Just Mets 