Noah Syndergaard is pitching his way through uncharted territory this season.
Syndergaard, who in his fifth MLB season is still somehow just 26, has struggled mightily, and those woes continued Saturday against the Brewers. The Mets right-hander gave up 10 hits — including a pair of homers — three walks and five earned runs in five innings.
That line is not an aberration, but the norm for Syndergaard this season. He's yielded at least four earned runs in five of six starts. His 6.35 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and .299 batting average against are the numbers of marginal major leaguers, not what you'd expect from the one-time Mets golden boy nicknamed "Thor."
And just like that Marvel superhero faces a tough challenge in the current blockbuster "Avengers: Endgame," Syndergaard is facing his own demons this year.
"It's just a combination of everything," Syndergaard told reporters after the Mets' 8-6 loss. "When it rains it pours. Whether it's inducing soft contact that somehow finds a hole, we had quite a few of those tonight … but also they tagged me for two home runs, so I tip my hat to them.
"I'm not pressing the panic button quite just yet. I still have every bit of confidence in my abilities. I'm just not getting the results I want. Something's not clicking."
"I'm not pressing the panic button quite just yet," Noah Syndergaard said of his struggles. pic.twitter.com/Mo0fg76ttz
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) April 28, 2019
Compounding Syndergaard's struggles is the fact the entire Mets starting rotation is struggling, with the starters posting a 5.32 ERA. Jacob deGrom, the 2018 Cy Young winner, has a 4.85 ERA, the same as last season's breakout star, Zack Wheeler.
Syndergaard said he actually felt better in his start against the Brewers, with his delivery more "in sync."
"But the results were the same," he said.
Syndergaard is trying to remain positive going forward.
"I'm just one split-second away from turning this all around," he said.