Mets expect Noah Syndergaard to return in June

During an interview appearance on WFAN this afternoon, Mets team president Sandy Alderson indicated that the team is expecting Noah Syndergaard to make his return from Tommy John surgery in June. As a reminder, Syndergaard underwent that surgery shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic hit the city, state, and country in full force in late March.

Still just 28 years old, Syndergaard struggled somewhat in 2019, finishing the year with a 4.28 ERA and 3.60 FIP over the course of 197.2 innings. Before that season, though, Syndergaard had established himself as one of the best pitchers in all of baseball. From his debut in 2015 through the 2018 season, Syndergaard’s 2.94 ERA was the fourth-best mark among qualified starting pitchers. Only Clayton Kershaw, Jacob deGrom, and Max Scherzer had better ERAs over that span.

The Mets’ success in 2021 is highly dependent on solidifying their rotation, and Syndergaard—who is eligible for free agency after the season—figures to factor into that equation if he does make a fully healthy return. For now, though, the team has deGrom, Marcus Stroman, and David Peterson in its rotation—plus less-than-ideal rotation options in Steven Matz or Seth Lugo—and needs to get more starting pitching this winter.