Syndergaard rolls a seven in likely final start in Grapefruit League

SARASOTA — Noah Syndergaard was almost too efficient Sunday. The Mets’ big righthander had to go seven innings against the Orioles to get his work in, in what was likely his last Grapefruit League start.

Syndergaard, the Opening Day starter, allowed one run, on eight hits. He did not walk a batter and struck out five in the Mets’ 5-4 win over the O’s at Ed Smith Stadium.

Syndergaard threw 86 pitches Sunday, 72 in the first six innings.

“His pitch count was so low, he did such a good job of keeping it down that we sent him back out there,” Mets manager Mickey Callaway said about the unusual move of having a starter go seven innings in a spring game. “He still didn’t get to the pitches we wanted him to get to, but up and down made up for that for sure.”

It is likely his final start in the Grapefruit League. With an offday this week, Syndergaard’s next start day would be Saturday, a game against the Cardinals, the team the Mets open the season against next Thursday.

Mets pitching coach Dave Eiland said he would rather not start a pitcher in a spring training game against the Cardinals if they are scheduled to pitch in that series. Instead, he will likely pitch in a simulated or minor league game, Eiland said.

Syndergaard was going to be held back a little anyway in his next appearance.

“I think the plan is to get me about 50 pitches my next one, do a touch-and-feel (bullpen session) and get ready for Opening Day,” Syndergaard said. He said he made a point of being efficient Sunday, pitching to contact as a way to try and get deeper into games. “I just tried to throw it where I wanted and if they hit it in play that’s their own doing, that’s saved me bullets,” Syndergaard said. “It allows me go deeper in games. So I just play off their aggressiveness.”

Callaway was impressed with Syndergaard’s ability to mix his pitches Sunday.

“He’s not just trying to blow everybody away,” Callaway said. “He’s using his pitches really well. It’s kind of hard to say he’s staying within himself when he’s throwing 94 mile-an-hour

sliders in the seventh, but

it’s outstanding. He’s pitching.”

Syndergaard is also taking more responsibility for holding runners. Syndergaard allowed 48 stolen bases in 2016, his only full season in the big leagues. It was so bad that the Mets felt they had to pair him with veteran backup catcher Rene Rivera. Callaway and Eiland do not believe in personal catchers and have charged the pitchers with holding runners. In parts of three seasons in the big leagues, Travis d’Arnaud had only caught Syndergaard 12 times.

Sunday, d’Arnaud said he noticed Syndergaard working on a holding runners and giving the catchers more time to throw. While Orioles prospect Cedric Mullins stole two bases off the Mets’ battery Sunday, they made a good play to get Tim Beckham.

“Definitely, he’s mixing up his times (to the plate) a lot, a little quicker to the plate, it’s nice to see that he’s really put a lot of work into this,” d’Arnaud said. “Me and Kevin (Plawecki) are noticing, so is the rest of the team and we really appreciate it.”