Diagnosed earlier this week with a torn right lat muscle, Noah Syndergaard, the New York Mets' ailing ace, is reportedly headed to see noted orthopedist Dr. Neal ElAttrache for a second opinion, while the conservative estimate has the 24-year-old right-hander out for the next three months, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
After famously refusing to have an MRI despite being scratched from last Thursday's scheduled start with a "tired arm", Syndergaard exited Sunday's outing against the Washington Nationals in the second inning due to injury, wincing and grabbing his right underarm area as he made his way off the field at Nationals Park. A subsequent MRI revealed the torn lat muscle, and Syndergaard was placed on the 10-day disabled list Monday.
Speaking before Monday's game against the Atlanta Braves, Mets general manager Sandy Alderson wouldn't speculate as to how much time Syndergaard would miss, but conceded he wouldn't be back in the rotation anytime soon. Steven Matz, another injured Mets starter, missed two months with a torn lat muscle in 2015, but Alderson didn't want to compare Syndergaard's injury to the one that felled Matz.
"It's going to be a considerable amount of time," Alderson told James Wagner of the New York Times.
Rafael Montero, a 26-year-old right-hander who has pitched exclusively out of the bullpen this year, is expected to start Friday in Syndergaard's stead, though that rotation spot will likely go to Matz when he gets over the elbow inflammation that has sidelined him all season.
"Somebody has got to pick up the slack," manager Terry Collins said. "I'm not asking any starting pitcher to be Noah Syndergaard. I'm asking them to be themselves, and go pitch a good game."