Why Mets fans likely won’t see Noah Syndergaard soon

LOS ANGELES — As the clock winds down on Noah Syndergaard’s minor league season, there still is no indication the Mets plan on promoting their top pitching prospect to the major leagues this year.

According to a club source, team brass has held discussions on which players might be called up in September, and the 21-year-old Syndergaard hasn’t yet been mentioned as a candidate.

Syndergaard allowed six earned runs over six innings in his latest start for Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday, and is 8-7 with a 4.85 ERA this season. Syndergaard has pitched 124 ¹/₃ innings, leaving him within about 30 of his maximum for the year.

After he wowed team officials with his stuff in spring training, it seemed like a foregone conclusion Syndergaard would join the Mets at some point in 2014, but the organization still is waiting for better results.

“You’ve got to be a little more consistent,” manager Terry Collins said before the Mets’ 7-4 loss to the Dodgers Saturday night. “He’s had some good games, but he’s had some rough games.

The game [Friday] night was a rough game for him.

“We can all talk about Vegas and the ballpark, but he’s had some ups and downs. I think if he does get recalled, certainly the energy will help, and we all know he can throw hard. I just think that if you’re going to get a look you should get more than [a few] innings.”

Syndergaard allowed just a run over his final five innings on Friday and was hitting 97-99 mph in the sixth inning, according to a person who watched him pitch.

After Syndergaard allowed five runs in the first, his teammates saw him “[ticked] off” for the first time this season, as the normally mild-mannered pitcher was visibly angry.

The fact Syndergaard has struggled at times in the first inning this season may lead to organizational officials changing his approach before taking the mound.

Syndergaard is expected to get two more regular-season starts for Las Vegas — the second of which will be abbreviated — before the Pacific Coast League playoffs begin. How far Las Vegas goes in the postseason will have a say in Syndergaard’s potential September call-up.

“You always like to see the prospects, but one thing I don’t want to have happen is have him called up and have five innings to work with,” Collins said. “[That is], start him in a game and have him go five and then shut him down for the rest of the year. I’m not sure that is a fair assessment of what he can do.”

Rafael Montero will be a likely September call-up, according to a source, and Daisuke Matsuzaka is patiently awaiting his next assignment after recently pitching his third minor league rehab game.

If the Mets were soon to make a waiver trade involving Bartolo Colon, the veteran Matsuzaka could fill that rotation spot, with Montero added in September as a sixth starter who would provide extra rest for Jacob deGrom and Zack Wheeler, who are facing inning limits.


Does Bartolo Colon have one foot out the door?

According to a FOX Sports report, the Mets have placed the veteran right-hander on revocable waivers, positioning the team for a potential trade.
The Angels, who need a starting pitcher following Garrett Richards’ season-ending injury, could be a potential landing spot for Colon (11-10, 3.85 ERA). But other teams could make a waiver claim to block the Angels.

Even so, the Mets owe Colon $11 million for next season and would like to erase that obligation from their books.


Rafael Montero, who allowed a run in the eighth inning on Friday in his first major league relief appearance, was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas to clear roster space for Jacob deGrom. It is possible the Mets will see Montero again next month, when rosters can expand.