Just Mets

Problems have had a way of figuring out themselves over the early part of the Mets season in 2015.

At least when it comes to their pitching staff.

The Mets entered spring training with a starting rotation of Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Zack Wheeler, Bartolo Colon, and Jon Niese.

Dillon Gee was on the outside looking in, trying to adapt to a bullpen role, and he was having a hard time finding success in doing so.

But, then Zack Wheeler got hurt and was lost for the year, but fortunately they had Dillon Gee to provide immediate insurance and at least buy them some time before arms like Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz forced the front office’s hand for a promotion.

That time came pretty quickly in 2015. Both Matz and Syndergaard have dominated the Pacific Coast League early this season, proving they’re worthiness for a promotion. In fact, Terry Collins said on Friday Wally Backman told him earlier this week both of their prized young prospects were ready right now for the big leagues.

The issue was that everyone in the big league rotation – including Gee – had been pitching well. The starting pitchers had a 2.95 ERA heading into play on Friday, the second-lowest mark in the big leagues.

But then came Friday’s news Gee had a groin strain, opening the door for one of the Mets jewel prospects to make his debut.

The Mets decided it would be Syndergaard, who had just dazzled the Albuquerque Isotopes for eight innings the previous afternoon in New Mexico.

And, another problem has been solved for the Mets pitching staff.

“He’s certainly done a nice job there to date, given his last three starts have been overpowering,” Sandy Alderson said on Friday evening in Philadelphia. “So, from that standpoint, we think he’s deserving, and he’ll be here to pitch.”

He is most certainly deserving of the call. Over his last three starts, Syndergaard has a 0.82 ERA in 22 innings, having allowed two earned runs, 11 hits, and just two walks with 27 strikeouts.

But so was Matz.

Matz is 4-1 with a 2.04 ERA in six games and five starts for Las Vegas this season, having allowed 27 hits, eight runs, and 15 walks with 38 strikeouts over 35 1/3 innings.

But Sandy Alderson said Friday (which had been stated here consistently over the last month) the club wanted Matz to accumulate more innings at Triple-A before being promoted.

“He’s only pitched 30, 35 innings or so at Triple-A,” Alderson explained about Matz. “He’s got a lot of talent, a lot of potential, and would be an equally qualified candidate.”

So, enter Syndergaard, who will make his much-anticipated major league debut on Tuesday night against the Cubs in Chicago.

Syndergaard hasn’t had an easy ride heading into Tuesday’s debut. As immaculate as his performance has been in 2015, it was anything but in 2014. The organization felt he simply wasn’t ready for the big leagues in 2014, evident by his one-dimensional approach to pitching throughout last year.

Previously in Single-A and Double-A, Syndergaard dominated with four pitches, including a devastating fastball with tremendous downward trajectory and an electric 12-6 curveball. But, he abandoned the approach which led to so much success and so many accolades early in his professional career in 2014

That changed beginning this year. He looked more like the pitcher he was prior to his stint in Las Vegas, utilizing all of his pitches, throwing all of them for strikes, and just mowing through the opposition on a routine basis.

“I just saw a different guy on the mound. Just his aggressiveness, his demeanor this year was different than last year,” Kevin Plawecki explained, according to Adam Rubin of ESPN New York. “It probably had to do with his mentality, just knowing he’s one of the best pitchers coming up in this game. Once he realizes that, he’s lights out. I think that’s what he’s starting to do. That’s been fun to watch.”

Overall, Syndergaard is 3-0 with a 1.82 ERA in five starts for Triple-A Las Vegas, having allowed only 20 hits and six earned runs with eight walks and 34 strikeouts in 29 2/3 innings.

Now, the questions will be what’s next for Syndergaard, and how will it affect Gee once he’s eligible to return from the disabled list. Gee has pitched well enough to retain a spot in the rotation, but in a lot of ways Syndergaard replacing Gee seemed inevitable, whether it was now or later.

If Syndergaard shows continued growth in the big leagues in the near-term, the Mets will be faced with a difficult decision soon, albeit via another good problem to solve on their to-do list.