Syndergaard gets nod for Mets in Game 2
NEW YORK — Rookie righthander Noah Syndergaard will start against the Cubs in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series, after all.
Mets manager Terry Collins was unsure if the hard-throwing 23-year-old, part of the Mets’ deep stable of talented young pitchers, would be able to go after he warmed up four times and pitched an inning Thursday against the Dodgers in Game 5 of their NL Division Series. But after talking to Syndergaard on Saturday, Collins gave him the nod for Sunday.
Syndergaard said he felt great and wanted the ball. That was music to Collins’ ears.
“He said, ‘I feel great. I’m not stiff. I’m not sore.’ And I said, ‘Well, then you’ve got tomorrow,’ ” Collins said.
That means Steven Matz will start Game 4 on Wednesday at Wrigley Field instead of Game 2. Collins said ace Jacob de Grom and Syndergaard will be available to start in the final two games if the series goes seven.
“My arm and body have never felt better,’’ Syndergaard said at a news conference before Game 1.
DeGrom, who started Game 5 of the NLDS in Los Angeles, will start Game 3 on Tuesday at Wrigley Field.
Matt Harvey, a 2013 All-Star who missed the 2014 season after having Tommy John surgery, started Game 1. The Mets have tried to proceed with caution with their stable of young pitchers, seeking a balance between avoiding overuse and needing to ride them to a postseason berth and beyond.
Syndergaard, 9-7 with a 3.24 ERA in 24 starts and 150 innings, allowed three runs in the Mets’ 5-2 loss to the Dodgers in Game 2 of the NLDS. He threw 17 pitches Thursday and about 60 warming up four times, Collins said, although Syndergaard said the number of warmups was much lower.
Syndergaard, who touched 101 mph in Game 2 in Los Angeles, made his debut against the Cubs on May 12, allowing three runs and six hits — including a home run by Chris Coghlan — in 5⅓ innings. The Cubs won 6-1 behind Jake Arrieta, who struck out 10 in eight innings. Arrieta also will start Game 2.
“I feel like I’ve changed night and day,’’ Syndergaard said. “Being able to work with [Mets pitching coach] Dan [Warthen], we made a lot of improvements and fine-tuned my mechanics and implemented a secondary changeup grip, which has allowed huge strides for my career.”
The Cubs took the Syndergaard news in stride.
“I don’t want us to change anything, man,’’ Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. “Just keep going out there and doing what we’re doing.
“All their pitchers are good — great starting pitchers. We’ve got some pretty good offensive players. Go play.”
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