Noah Syndergaard might be last superstar standing in Mets rotation
Noah Syndergaard may be carrying a heavier load for the Mets down the stretch. (AP)
It’s long been said that teams can never have enough pitching depth, particularly in the starting rotation. The New York Mets have become living proof of that, as their once loaded starting rotation might be down to one true superstar in Noah Syndergaard.
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That’s the fear at least after we learned Friday that Jacob deGrom has been diagnosed with inflammation in his right pitching elbow.
According to Mike Puma of the New York Post, this development will cost deGrom at least one start. It’s also reported there’s no structural damage in deGrom’s elbow, which would seemingly be good news. However, it’s cautioned by ESPN’s Adam Rubin that the Mets reporting of injuries doesn’t always tell the whole story.
You can pretty much dismiss the Mets when they say that. That refers to the ligaments not dangling. https://t.co/gIQv2eJ4CX
— Adam Rubin (@AdamRubinESPN) September 2, 2016
Precautionary MRI & no structural damage are virtually meaningless these days because teams use it as default terms. https://t.co/kYfyDMJjfD
— Adam Rubin (@AdamRubinESPN) September 2, 2016
Even if it’s a temporary setback, it’s startling to ponder the position the Mets suddenly find themselves in. DeGrom joins Matt Harvey (shoulder surgery), Steven Matz (shoulder soreness) and Zack Wheeler (Tommy John complications) on the sideline. That’s 80 percent of the starting rotation many thought would carry the Mets for years to come, perhaps even to the year 2020, out of action at one time.
Forget 2020 or even 2017, just getting to the finish line in 2016 has become a massive struggle. We know Harvey and Wheeler won’t make it, and we honestly don’t know what the future will hold for either. Matz’s status might be edging closer to doubtful than questionable after renewed soreness popped up this week. As for deGrom, it’s a day-to-day situation until the Mets provide something more concrete than what we’ve heard.
Collins did nod his head yes when asked if there is concern about deGrom.
— Mike Puma (@NYPost_Mets) September 2, 2016
We’ll need more than a head nod too.
This leaves Syndergaard as the healthiest of the big five, though we also know he’s worked through a bone spur in his elbow too. In other words, he’s not one-hundred percent either. Despite a couple hiccups, he’s been able to work through his condition effectively, posting a 2.55 ERA over 26 starts coming into Friday’s outing against the Washington Nationals.
So really, the healthiest arm might just belong to Bartolo Colon, a 43-year-old workhorse who seemingly defies the odds with every start. That is far from ideal, but it highlights the importance of building and maintaining depth.
Eight months ago, Colon was seen as an insurance policy who might earn a role in the bullpen. Now, he’s the No. 2 starter, and a pretty decent one at that. His 3.94 is not dominant. His 6.0 K/9 is not overpowering. But he makes his starts and the Mets have won 12 of his 17 dating back to July.
It’s a war of attrition and the Mets are losing it… badly. Meanwhile, their hopes of making the postseason will now hinge on guys like Logan Verrett and Robert Gsellman and perhaps Jon Niese, though he too is currently injured.
Needless to say, they need good news on deGrom. And they need it soon.
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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at bigleaguestew@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!