Philadelphia Phillies RHP Noah Syndergaard was originally lined up to face the Mets this weekend during a four-game series in Philadelphia that starts on Friday, but he will get extra rest instead, reports Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Lauber noted that Syndergaard's start on Monday, Aug. 15 against the Cincinnati Reds was his first start this season on four-days (regular) rest. In that start, Syndergaard went seven innings, throwing 77 pitches.
Syndergaard could have pitched on an extra day of rest against the Mets on Sunday, Aug. 21, but the Phillies are opting to start him on Monday, Aug. 22 against the Reds instead.
In his first full season back from Tommy John surgery, Syndergaard has been getting extra days between starts regularly.
His starts so far since being acquired by the Phillies from the Los Angeles Angels at the trade deadline have been on Aug. 4, Aug. 10, and Aug. 15. He did not pitch against the Mets during a series at Citi Field from Aug. 12-14 because of the start he made on Aug. 10.
Syndergaard also did not start against the Mets earlier this season when the teams played in Anaheim from June 10-12, with the Angels choosing to give him extra rest.
Shortly after being traded to the Phillies, Syndergaard spoke again about his offseason departure, when he rejected the Mets' qualifying offer and signed a one-year deal with the Angels.
"Part of the reason why I made the move to the Angels on the west coast… that energy that could make New York so great and positive could also bite you in the butt a little bit," he said. "Especially with what I’m going through right now, a dip in velocity, still trying to rely on location and mixing things up, and I feel like if I was doing that playing here, everything would be highlighted. That was a big fear of mine."