The Los Angeles Angels and the New York Mets are set to face each other in an important weekend series at Angel Stadium.
Tylor Megill will take the ball for the Mets after a lengthy injury-related absence, while Jhonathan Diaz will pitch for the home team.
Noah Syndergaard, who pitched for the Mets from 2015 to 2021, was set to start Sunday’s game for the Angels, the team with which he signed a one-year, $21 million contract to play this season.
However, that is no longer the case now.
“#Angels MGR Phil Nevin said RHP Noah Syndergaard is fine health-wise. Just wants to give him an extra two days rest with Monday’s off-day. He will start vs. #Dodgers Tuesday night in LA,” Angels reporter Mike DiGiovanna tweeted on Thursday night.
#Angels MGR Phil Nevin said RHP Noah Syndergaard is fine health-wise. Just wants to give him an extra two days rest with Monday’s off-day. He will start vs. #Dodgers Tuesday night in LA.
— Mike DiGiovanna (@MikeDiGiovanna) June 9, 2022
The much-awaited matchup between “Thor” and the Mets won’t be taking place for now.
The Angels Probably Want To Avoid Unnecessary Drama
Ever since he decided to sign with the Angels, there has been some beef between Syndergaard and some Mets fans that let him know their disappointment.
Then, when rookie Reid Detmers pitched a no-hitter this season, Syndergaard implied, through an Instagram post, that Detmers’ gem is actually a legitimate no-hitter; as opposed to the one the Mets achieved with several relievers.
His Instagram post didn’t make things any better, and the Angels and Nevin probably prefer to avoid any potential distractions by giving Thor a couple of extra days and thus avoiding the matchup against the Mets.
Syndergaard’s season has been solid from an ERA standpoint (3.69), but he is striking out fewer people than usual, with 30 punchouts in 46.1 frames.
In any case, he has been a solid addition to the Angels pitching staff.
Syndergaard had to skip his start Sunday vs the Mets due to a OB/GYN appointment..