The New York Mets have a legitimate chance to play in one game wild card playoff, but Bartolo Colon might the best option to start the game.
Remember, near the beggining of the season, when SNY.tv posted an online video of Noah Syndergaard walking around the streets of New York dressed up as Thor as part of an online segment with Syndergaard known as The Amazin’ Life?During that segment dressed as his alter ego, Syndergaard asked a Met fan on the streets, “Which Mets pitcher would you start in a one-game playoff besides me, Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, or Steven Matz?” The Mets fan answered with Matt Harvey. After answering the question, Syndergaard jokingly said, “Wrong, trick question, any question where I am not involved, the answer should automatically be Bartolo Colon.”
The Mets fan answered with Matt Harvey. After answering the question, Syndergaard jokingly said, “Wrong, trick question, any question where I am not involved, the answer should automatically be Bartolo Colon.”
At the time, it would seem like a joke to start Colon if the New York Mets were to be playing in the NL wildcard game. However, it is very possible that Colon could be that man to represent the Mets on the mound if the Mets were to make the one game playoff. Due to season-ending injuries to Harvey, deGrom, and now Matz’s return in jeopardy, the Mets two best options to start in this wildcard game would obviously be either Syndergaard or Colon.
Even though Syndergaard has been the most dominant starting pitcher in the Mets rotation for a good majority of the season, the truth is, Colon is really the most reliable option the Mets have in their starting rotation. Syndergaard may be 13-9 this season with an ERA of 2.63 and has a strikeout to walk ratio of 4.8 to 1. However, Syndergaard really hasn’t been his dominant self recently. Over his last four starts, Syndergaard is 1-2 with a 3.18 ERA.
Remarkably, Colon has probably been the most reliable starting pitcher in the Mets rotation. Over his last seven starts, Colon is 4-0 with a 2.35 ERA, 30 strikeouts, and the Mets won five of those games. In both of those losses, Colon pitched well but the team blew a late lead on each occasion.
Even though the 24-year-old Syndergaard has much more electrifying stuff than the 43-year-old Colon, if the Mets were to make the NL wildcard game, Terry Collins should stick with the hot hand and have Colon make the start over Syndergaard.
The Mets still have eight more games before the conclusion of the regular season next Sunday, so Syndergaard and Colon will both be making at least one more start before the end of the regular season. As of now, Colon is projected to make two more regular season starts, Monday against the Miami Marlins and the regular season finale against the Philadelphia Phillies. Meanwhile, Syndergaard is expected to make at least one more start, but the Mets are unsure when that start will be as he is currently dealing with a strep throat.
Since Colon is expected to start the season finale next Sunday in Philadelphia, this could put Colon’s chance of potentially starting that one game playoff in question. The NL Wildcard game is expected to be played three days after the final regular season game, leaving Colon on two days of rest for the game.
Obviously, the Mets first have to finish their regular season strong to keep their wild card hopes alive, but if Terry Collins decides to start Colon over Syndergaard in the wildcard game, he should find a way to rearrange his starting rotation, setting up Colon to start that game on at least a few days rest. If the Mets do end up clinching a wild card spot, it definitely won’t be an easy decision for Terry Collins on who to start in the do or die wild card game.
A 43-year-old starting a one game winner take all affair would be something, though, wouldn’t it?
