Entering Wednesday's National League Wild Card Game against the Giants at Citi Field (8 p.m. ET on ESPN), Syndergaard can now call himself one of the best starting pitchers in baseball, an easy entry on the short list of the game's top arms. Syndergaard's four-seam fastball hits 101 mph. His slider has been clocked above 95 mph. His sinker, curve and changeup are all weapons he uses every game.
That is why the Mets chose him to start their most important game of the season -- win or go home. In reality, with deGrom, Matt Harvey and Steven Matz all injured, it was not much of a choice.