Noah back to hill after spur scare
Noah Syndergaard will be back on the mound Sunday for the first time since it was revealed that he’s been pitching with a bone spur in his right elbow.
Syndergaard initially denied the injury, first reported by the Daily News’ Kristie Ackert, following a poor start last Monday – allowing a season-high five earned runs in just three innings — before admitting two days later that he had lied to the media about the situation.
Even in fessing up, the hardthrowing righty stressed the spur is “pretty insignificant,” a contention Terry Collins backed up before Saturday’s game against the Cubs.
“If the elbow had any issues to do with it, he wouldn’t be throwing 100 (miles per hour),” Collins said. “The velocity’s been great, and it’s been the same old stuff: you’ve got to locate your pitches. Two starts ago, everything was in the middle of the plate. He threw a fastball and even though it was 98 (mph), it was right in the zone.
“I just think he has to go back and get himself back to the corners, don’t be afraid to pitch inside a little bit more.”
Collins also believes Syndergaard, whose ERA has ballooned from 1.91 to 2.49 over his past two starts, has “lost a little feel for the depth in his slider and he’s got to get that back.”
Syndergaard has acknowledged that the bone spur was the cause of the discomfort that led him to visit team doctors following his June 22 start. He has been taking anti-inflammatory medication to deal with the issue.
Long Island lefty Steven Matz also has been pitching recently with a bone spur in his elbow.
“That’s one of the things with Steven, when his elbow is bothering him, his secondary pitches, he didn’t want to throw them. But Noah has continued to throw them,” Collins added. “Two starts ago, when the elbow flared up here, he kind of shied away from them, but his next start, he said my elbow feels fine.”
WAITING ON REYES
Jose Reyes went 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored Saturday night for Double-A Binghamton. He is batting .179 (5for-28) in seven minor-league rehab games in his attempt to get back to the majors following a 52-game domestic-violence suspension.
“I haven’t seen (his swing), as you guys know I’ve got enough on my hands, to be honest. When they tell me he’s ready and he feels he’s ready, he’ll be here,” Collins said. “One thing I do know, he knows himself better than anybody. When he feels like his swing is there, I don’t care what the results are. He’s gonna hit…But when he gets here, he wants to be ready.”
JUAN MORE TIME
Juan Lagares was activated off the disabled list and grounded into a double-play as a pinchhitter in the sixth inning. He likely will start for the Mets on Sunday against Cubs lefty Jon Lester. Collins added the organization doesn’t believe the sprained left thumb that sidelined the former Gold Glove winning outfielder since June 15 will require surgery.
Seth Lugo tossed two shutout innings Friday in his majorleague debut but was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas to clear a roster spot for Lagares’ activation.
GRANDY MAN, CAN?
Curtis Granderson believes “it will be a possibility” to return to the lineup on Sunday after not starting for the fifth straight game with a strained right calf. He took batting practice and ran the bases before Saturday’s game and was in the on-deck circle to pinch-hit when the Mets were retired in the eighth inning.