The Mets narrowly escaped Citi Field with a victory last night, but they may have lost Noah Syndergaard.
After coming out to pitch in the 7th inning against the St. Louis Cardinals last night, Noah Syndergaard was seen clutching the back of his right leg. He was removed from the game and left the field walking with a noticeable limp.
The Mets have placed Noah Syndergaard on the Injured List with a hamstring strain. An MRI is scheduled for today.
Usually this means we go into Flexen/Oswalt territory and hope for a quick return. Things aren’t that simple this time around.
Chris Flexen is with the Mets, but the team is trying to convert him into a reliever. Corey Oswalt is currently on Syracuse’s Injured List. It doesn’t appear the team is ready to call up Anthony Kay, so what are our options?
The Mets are about to embark on a road trip against Atlanta and Philadelphia, which may determine how the rest of the season plays out. There are no off days in sight. Someone is going to have to make these starts so let’s see who is ready to be a hero.
WILMER FONT
Acquired earlier this season from the Tampa Bay Rays, Wilmer Font has electric stuff. It has just never translated into Major League success. Font started three games for the Mets and has pitched to a 5.19 ERA. He pitched decently against the Padres and Nationals although he only went 4 innings in each outing. In his third start, he faced the Nationals again and he got lit up, only lasting 2 1/3 innings.
After those starts, the Mets have used him strictly as a reliever. In his five relief appearances, only the Yankees were able to score against him, so there may be something there.
At the end of the day, Wilmer Font is a pitcher with a career ERA over 6. The stuff is electric and tantalizing, but putting him on the mound in must win games against Philadelphia and/or Atlanta is a HUGE gamble.
ERVIN SANTANA
The Mets signed Ervin Santana to a minor league contract in May of this year after he was released by the Chicago White Sox.
You may be wondering, why did Chicago release him? Well, he gave up 13 runs in 19 innings and only struck out 3 batters.
Santana has had success at the Major League level, which may tip the scales in his favor. But at 36 years of age, there may not be much if anything left in the tank.
Santana did throw six scoreless innings in his last minor league outing for the St. Lucie Mets.
WALKER LOCKETT
Walter Lockett was acquired by the Mets in the trade that sent Kevin Plawecki to Cleveland. Brodie Van Wagenen often brought up Lockett this offseason when talking about the starting pitching depth the Mets had. The other name he liked to mention was Hector Santiago who was designated for assignment yesterday.
Walter Lockett was acquired by the Indians last season in the Brad Hand/Francisco Mejia trade. The fact that the Indians gave him up a few months later, and we haven’t heard virtually anything about him from the Mets since the season started is a little bizarre.
He’s been decent for Syracuse this year, but his 15 strikeouts in 31 minor league innings is very underwhelming. Internally, the Mets must feel that he isn’t missing enough bats with his 93 MPH fastball to warrant a promotion.
VERDICT
Pray for rain.
I’m just playing, but I’m saying. The Mets could surprise us, but these are the three most likely candidates to replace Syndergaard.