Noah Syndergaard is close to returning to the Mets’ Triple-A rotation.
According to club sources, the organization’s top pitching prospect has begun long tossing and is expected to resume pitching for Las Vegas on June 5.
Syndergaard flew to New York earlier this week for an MRI exam after experiencing discomfort in his right forearm. The MRI was negative for structural damage, and Syndergaard was prescribed shoulder exercises.
In 10 starts for Las Vegas, the 21-year-old Syndergaard is 5-2 with a 4.02 ERA.
Bobby Abreu was originally slated to play left field with Curtis Granderson in right, but manager Terry Collins flip-flopped the two before the 6-5 Phillies win in 14 innings. Collins originally wanted Abreu in left because it is the smaller field at Citizens Bank Park, and the manager didn’t want to move Granderson from his normal spot in right.
Ruben Tejada, who went 2-for-6 with an RBI, returned to shortstop as the Mets continue to rotate Wilmer Flores and Tejada at the position.
“I’m happy it keeps both of them fresh,” Collins said. “It keeps both of them when they come to the ballpark ready to play.
“We haven’t said one guy is going to sit the bench. I’m trying to keep to keep those two guys in there as much as I can so one of them doesn’t sit there and all of a sudden he’s in the lineup and it’s a surprise. I want him to be ready each and every day.”
With the bullpen depleted, the Mets are expected to promote reliever Buddy Carlyle from Triple-A Las Vegas before Saturday’s game. The 36-year-old Carlyle last appeared in the major leagues with the Yankees in 2011.
Zack Wheeler , Vic Black and Jenrry Mejia combined for 15 strikeouts without a walk on Thursday.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it marked only the fourth time in franchise history the Mets had 15 strikeouts in a game without walking a batter. It had last occurred on July 14, 1989 against the Braves, in a game started by Sid Fernandez.
Collins had plans to give David Wright and Daniel Murphy a breather in the coming days. Wright has started every game this season and Murphy all but two.