Apr 5, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard (34) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Photo Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
LOS ANGELES — New York Mets manager Terry Collins inadvertently let some medical news seep out during his postgame comments following Noah Syndergaard’s one-man show against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday night.
Collins was asked why he pulled Syndergaard after only 95 pitches, having retired 12 of the last 13 Dodgers he faced. The Mets manager referenced an MRI exam Syndergaard had on his pitching elbow the day after his May 1 start. Syndergaard gave up four runs in 5 2/3 innings in that outing against the San Francisco Giants.
“Two weeks ago … unbeknownst to me, he went and had his elbow looked at,” Collins said Wednesday, after Syndergaard got the win by throwing eight innings of two-run ball and hitting two homers.
The Mets scrambled Thursday to describe the exam as simply precautionary, adding that Syndergaard’s elbow issue didn’t rise to the level of discomfort, let alone pain.
“Noah’s one of these guys — he’s really in tune with the way he feels from start to start,” Mets assistant general manager John Ricco said Thursday. “Coming out of the start against the Giants, he said something just didn’t feel right and wanted to have it checked out.
“We’re pretty conservative when it comes to these guys, and we had him looked at. It was nothing of concern.”
The Mets have already said left-hander Steven Matz will skip his next start due to soreness in his elbow. There are no plans to do the same with Syndergaard, who is scheduled to start Tuesday against the Washington Nationals.
