TORONTO -- Thor’s hammer never did strike for the Guardians.
Noah Syndergaard, nicknamed Thor during his glory days with the Mets because of his flowing blond hair and 6-6, 240-pound frame, was designated for assignment by the Guardians on Sunday after his six-inning start against the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.
A few things are at play here.
Recommended Guardians stories
- Did Terry Francona’s retirement talk crush Guardians’ last hope for 2023? Hey, Hoynsie!
- Lefty gets demoted, but it wasn’t his fault: Guardians takeaways
- Rookie catcher gets some brotherly advice on how to handle homecoming
The Guardians are likely to add a reliever to take Syndergaard’s roster spot for their big three-game series against the Twins that starts Monday at Target Field.
The Twins, who beat Texas 7-6 in 13 innings Sunday, hold a six-game lead over the Guardians for first place in the AL Central. They will meet for the final six times this season over the next 10 days.
After adding a reliever, they are then expected to make a roster move later in the week to activate Cal Quantrill, who looked good in his rehab start for Columbus on Saturday night. Quantrill will then take Syndergaard’s spot in the rotation.
Teams can expand their roster to 28 players on Friday. They are allowed to carry only 14 pitchers.
BET $5, GET $200 BONUS BETS
DRAFTKINGS SPORTSBOOK
BET $50, GET $250 BONUS BETS
CAESARS SPORTSBOOK
BET $5, GET $200 BONUS BETS & $100 OFF NFL SUNDAY TICKET
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK
$1,000 FIRST BET OFFER
BETMGM
BET $1, GET $200 BONUS BETS
BET365
The Guardians acquired Syndergaard from the Dodgers on July 26 for shortstop Amed Rosario. He was on the injured list when the trade was made, but he was quickly activated and added to Cleveland’s wounded rotation.
Sunday was his sixth start, and while he allowed only four hits over six innings, three of them were home runs accounting for five Toronto runs.
The home run has been a problem for Syndergaard. He’s allowed 22 long balls in 88 2/3 innings this year. Ten of those homers were surrendered with the Guards.
Syndergaard went 1-2 with a 6.10 ERA in five starts for Cleveland. He struck out 18 and walked eight.
He is 2-6 with a 6.50 ERA in 17 starts for the season.
When asked about Syndergaard’s performance against the Jays, manager Terry Francona said, “He just had trouble keeping it in the ballpark. He only gave up a few hits for a while, but the home runs kind of get in the way a little bit. I know it frustrated him.”
Ad not displaying properly? Become a Cleveland Baseball Insider by clicking here.
If you or a loved one has questions and needs to talk to a professional about gambling, call the Ohio Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-589-9966 or the National Council on Program Gambling Helpline (NCPG) at 1-800-522-4700 or visit 1800gambler.net for more information. 21+ and present in Ohio. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.