Dodgers News: Dave Roberts Noncommittal on Noah Syndergaard Making Next Start
Dodgers RHP Noah Syndergaard struggled again on Wednesday in the Dodgers’ 10-6 loss to the Washington Nationals. Syndergaard was dealt an early 3-0 lead, but was unable to hold on to it, ultimately leaving the game with his team down 5-4.
Syndergaard ended up going five innings, allowing seven hits, two walks and five earned runs while throwing 96 pitches. It was yet another bad start from Syndergaard, putting his future in the rotation somewhat in jeopardy.
After the game, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was noncommittal about Syndergaard making his next scheduled start.
“Um, I don’t know,” Roberts said. “The hope is that he does. Right now I just don’t want to answer that question.”
Dave Roberts on whether Syndergaard will make his next start: "I don’t know. The hope is that he does. Right now I just don’t want to answer that question."#Dodgers have two off days in the next five, presenting a skip-a-start possibility.
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) May 31, 2023
That doesn’t exactly bode well for Syndergaard, who now sports a massive 6.54 ERA in 11 starts this season. The Dodgers are 4-7 in Syndergaard’s starts, which isn’t helping his cause either.
Syndergaard came to the Dodgers to resurrect his career, and two months into the year, he’s had no luck. After Wednesday’s game, Syndergaard appeared somewhat defeated in his postgame presser.
“I would give my hypothetical first-born to be the old me again. I’ll do anything possible to get back to that,” Syndergaard said. “It really sucks. Right now I just feel like I’m the only weakest link on this team.”
More #Dodgers Syndergaard: “It really sucks. Right now I just feel like I’m the only weakest link on this team."
— Juan Toribio (@juanctoribio) May 31, 2023
You have to feel for Syndergaard, who’s been working hard to get back to his pre-Tommy John surgery self. Syndergaard was out seemingly everyday of spring training, working on his mechanics and trying to get back to being the dominant pitcher he was early in his career.
But unfortunately, it just hasn’t worked out, and the Dodgers are left with a decision to make regarding Syndergaard.
The right-hander is set to make $13 million this season, so if the Dodgers decide to give up on him, they’d be eating that salary. But right now, they can’t keep throwing him out there, because he’s losing them games that they should win.
The Dodgers have a day off on Thursday and Monday of next week, so they could elect to skip one of his starts in this next turn. However, at the end of the day, one skipped start isn’t likely to turn Syndergaard’s season around, so the Dodgers may have to take some more drastic measures to deal with their struggling starting pitcher.
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