Game #65 Preview: Blue Jays @ Mets

The Blue Jays head to Citi Field for two games with the Mets, before returning home to face the same squad in Toronto. A good ole' home and home series! Mark Buehrle takes the mound for Toronto while Noah Syndergaard gets the start for the Mets. If the narratives aren't obvious, this is the first time the Jays and Syndergaard will meet since the team traded him away in December of 2012 as well as the fact that Jose Reyes and R.A. Dickey return to their old stomping grounds in Queens. Since the trade with the Mets, the righty pitcher has continued to dominate and make it increasingly obvious that the Mets won the trade with not much room for debate. The 38th overall pick in 2010, Syndergaard finally made his major league debut about a month ago and has compiled six starts with the Mets thus far.

He's looked pretty good:

In 34.2 innings pitched, Syndergaard has a 4.15 ERA, but a 22.5% K-rate and a minuscule 4.0% BB-rate have his FIP sitting at a lower number of 2.96. He's been basically as advertised, although his last two starts have been MUCH worse than his first four. Against the Giants and Padres, he allowed four and seven runs respectively in consecutive losses. The Mets as a whole haven't been all that hot lately although their pitching staff has remained strong all season and is one of the main reasons the team still sits in first place currently. On the offensive side of the ball, players like Travis d'Arnaud (sigh) and Lucas Duda have been strong although the squad lacks much superstar power with their 200 lb. shortstop in Wilmer Flores leading the team in home runs with 10.

As many people will remember from his time in Low-A Lansing, Syndergaard features a wicked heater to go along with his ridiculous curveball. His changeup has continued to come along as the all-important third pitch keeping hitters from getting too comfortable with his repertoire. During his time in the majors, the righty has switched between favouring his fastball or his sinker depending on the game, although both pitches light up the radar gun just shy of 100 mph. His curveball on the other hand comes in at 80 mph and has hard, sharp break. His changeup, which Keith Law considers the better off-speed pitch, is high 80's and is obviously faster than Buehrle's fastball. Filth:

Hopeful Lineup

We're going to look back on this dynamite lineup one day when things aren't quite as good and stare in awe. That being said, the Blue Jays need another bench player instead of an eighth reliever in the NL park.

1. Jose Reyes SS
2. Josh Donaldson 3B
3. Jose Bautista RF
4. Edwin Encarnacion 1B
5. Russell Martin C
6. Chris Colabello LF
7. Kevin Pillar CF
8. Ryan Goins 2B
9. Mark Buehrle P

Bullpen Usage

Find The Link

Find the link between Noah Syndergaard and the only starter on the Cincinnati Reds Low-A squad who has not allowed a home run against in 2015.

Sit back and enjoy the interesting contest tonight.