Mets playoffs: Noah Syndergaard could come out of bullpen in Game 5 vs. Dodgers

Noah Syndergaard could pitch in the seventh or eighth inning in Game 5 tomorrow if the Mets have the lead, Terry Collins said today.

Syndergaard, who would be on regular rest, allowed three earned runs on five hits in Game 2 on Saturday. He had allowed only one run through the first six innings before allowing two baserunners before his exit in the seventh. The 23-year-old rookie threw 115 pitches on Saturday, one shy of his career high.

Should Syndergaard make a relief appearance, it would be his first in the majors. The last time he came out of the bullpen in the minors was at Single-A Lansing in 2012, when he made eight such appearances while he was in the Blue Jays' system. He has not made a relief appearance since being traded to the Mets before the 2013 season.

If the Mets do have a late-inning lead, Syndergaard would likely replace either Tyler Clippard or Addison Reed. Both relievers have struggled as of late: Clippard had a 7.11 ERA over his last 12 appearances this season and allowed a run on two hits in two-thirds of an inning in Game 1, and Reed allowed a run and two hits in one-third of an inning in Game 2.

This season, Syndergaard went 9-7 with a 3.24 ERA and a 3.25 FIP in 24 starts