Noah Syndergaard is playing for his third team in just two years, but a change of scenery isn’t helping the All-Star Pitcher return to his dominant form.
After signing a one-year, $13 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the offseason, Syndergaard has struggled in the first two months of the season, and his rocky start continued Wednesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. washington nationals.
Dodgers’ Noah Syndergaard reacts after a two-run home run by Washington Nationals’ Jeimer Candelario at Dodger Stadium on May 31, 2023 in Los Angeles. (Harry How/Getty Images)
Syndergaard allowed five earned runs and seven hits Wednesday afternoon, blowing two leads as the dodgers fell to the Nationals, 10-6.
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After the game, a clearly depressed Syndergaard spoke about his problems as his ERA rose to 6.54 after the start.
«Trying to make these big adjustments between starts is not the easiest thing to do,» Syndergaard said. «I’d give my hypothetical firstborn to go back to the old me. I’ll do everything I can to get back to that. I’m still expected to go out there and compete, and today I just fell behind a lot of hitters.»
The 2016 All-Star has now allowed three or more runs in seven of 10 starts, not including a May 9 start against the milwaukee Brewers, who lasted one inning due to injury.
Noah Syndergaard of the Dodgers addresses the dugout during the Washington Nationals game at Dodger Stadium on May 31, 2023 in Los Angeles. (Harry How/Getty Images)
«It really sucks,» Syndergaard said. «Right now, I feel like I’m the only weak link on this team. I want to go out and compete and be successful for others in this clubhouse, but it just isn’t working.»
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In his first five MLB seasons – everything with him New York Mets – Syndergaard was a star, striking out more than 200 batters in 2016 and 2019.
But Tommy John surgery in 2020 knocked Syndergaard out all season, and he hasn’t been able to return to his former speed and control.
Tommy John surgery in 2020 knocked out Noah Syndergaard for the season, and he hasn’t been able to return to his former speed and control. (Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
«He’s having problems right now. A number of guys are having problems,» catcher Will Smith said, according to MLB.com. «I know that Noah is specifically going to keep working on his [behind] off. That’s what he does. There’s no doubt he’ll be back at some point, whether it’s his next outing or his outing after that. He’s too good a pitcher not to come back.»
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When asked if Syndergaard would make his next scheduled start, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was noncommittal.
«I don’t know,» Roberts said. «The hope is that it does, but right now I just don’t want to answer that.»
Associated Press contributed to this report.