Mets announce Noah Syndergaard would start Wild Card game
Thinking ahead, Mets manager makes right call to line up his ace for Wild Card game
New York Mets manager Terry Collins is set up for October baseball. Should his squad make it, Noah Syndergaard will start the wild card game against presumably either San Francisco or St. Louis.
It’s the obvious call to make. We all love how Bartolo Colon has contributed to this team and how he’s pitched in some key moments. However, in a one game elimination, you need to throw your absolute best.
Plus, you still have the veteran presence of Colon to start a series against Chicago should you get to that point.
We can analyze every number in the book, but Syndergaard has taken over as this team’s ace. Are the stolen bases a worry? Absolutely, but the Cardinals have the fewest stolen bases in the National League.
The Giants are in the middle of the pack in steals (eighth to be exact) in the N.L. In addition, Syndergaard did a much better job against the San Francisco lineup the second time around in keeping them off the bases with two hits allowed in eight innings.
Here is an interesting statistic to keep in mind going forward: Syndergaard achieved his highest game score of the season — an 82 — against the Giants. Colon has a season-high game score of 75 three times. One of those starts came against the Cardinals.
I don’t want to fill your eyes and head with a bunch of numbers, though. Personally, when the chips are down, I would want a team to win or lose with their ace. Just throw your best and whatever happens, you’ll have no regrets.
Collins has asserted that line of thinking with his announcement and speaking just for myself, I have no qualms with it.
What Colon has done is fantastic and he’s a fan favorite. If the Mets do make it and advance past the Wild Card game, he’ll see an expanded role as a starter after pitching out of the pen during the 2015 run.
He’s accepted his role with this team and displayed great leadership throughout. All of those are admirable qualities, but in the same breath: he doesn’t have the ability to take over a game that Syndergaard possesses.
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