Mets Noah Syndergaard: A Top-4 Starting Pitcher in 2017?

By Bill Pivetz | Feb 22, 2017

Sep 27, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard (34) throws a pitch during the first inning against Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

Mets ace starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard was one of two to make it all season without an injury. If he does the same in 2017, he is a top-four pitcher.

The New York Mets have one of the best starting rotations in the league. However, 2016 struck down on them with multiple injuries. The only one still on the team that was able to make 30 starts was Noah Syndergaard. He had an amazing season as a result. With this level of consistency, I think he is a top-four starting pitcher this season.

The starting pitching pool is rich with talent but going past the top 20 or so, the skill drops off a bit. It is imperative to draft one or even two elite pitchers in the first three rounds. Syndergaard falls into that group easily.

In his 31 games, he posted a 2.60 ERA, 1.150 WHIP, and 14-9 record. He struck out 218 batters and walked 43 in 183.2 innings. The wins don’t bother me because they rely too much on the offense to put up enough runs and the bullpen to hold a lead. To better see how well he pitched, he had 20 quality starts (minimum six innings with three or fewer earned runs).

The only other Mets pitcher to make all of his starts was the ageless wonder, Bartolo Colon, but he is no longer on the team.

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Jacob deGrom made 24 starts. Steven Matz made 22. Matt Harvey only 17. Mets fans and fantasy owners alike are still awaiting the return of Zack Wheeler to the rotation.

deGrom is the only other pitcher ranked inside my top 10, but he isn’t competing with the pitchers atop this list.

There’s no doubt that Clayton Kershaw and Madison Bumgarner are in the top four. As of now, I have Max Scherzer and Corey Kluber in there as well. Chris Sale is my No. 5 pitcher with Syndergaard behind them.

In my opinion, Syndergaard could easily be drafted as the No. 4 starting pitcher in some leagues.

Scherzer suffered a stress fracture in the knuckle of his right ring finger back in January, according to Dan Kolko, the on-field reporter for Washington Nationals broadcasts. USA Today reports that Scherzer is still dealing with said injury and questionable for Opening Day. While 28 starts are still in play, he may fall a round or two in leagues.

Kluber had a less-than-steller 2015 season but bounced back nicely in 2016. It’s possible that he could regress again in 2017. Though I think 2015 was the outlier and he will remain in the top-five conversation.

Sale moving to Boston and the American League East could do more harm than good. He made a career-high 32 starts and pitched in six complete games. That kind of wear and tear can catch up to him in 2017.

Next: Nationals add Matt Wieters

Syndergaard is quickly climbing up the starting pitcher ranks after less than two full seasons under his belt. There are some fantasy sites that have Syndergaard ranked ahead of Sale and Kluber at No. 4 and he should be drafted as such.

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