The Phillies upgraded to their pitching rotation with the addition of Noah Syndergaard via trade with the Los Angeles Angels, and after his long tenure with the Mets, he’s no stranger to the National League East.
Syndergaard tweeted a very specific welcome to the Phillies fans, reminding them of the time that he stole an ATV from the Phillie Phanatic.
“Well this is awkward,” Syndergaard wrote alongside a GIF of his prank on the mascot during a 2017 game between the Mets and Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.
Syndergaard, who had a down year last season, has rebounded nicely: In 15 starts, he holds a 3.83 ERA, his lowest since 2018. His WHIP is also back in the area that it was in 2018, sporting a 1.213 WHIP this year.
The Phillies, who are currently holding onto the last wild-card spot in the National League, are attempting to bolster a rotation that already sports Zack Wheeler — Syndergaard’s former teammate with the Mets — and Aaron Nola. Syndergaard’s 7.2 K/9 would rank second-best amongst Phillies starters this year.
Adding Syndergaard bolsters the front end of a rotation that already ranks ninth in the MLB in team ERA.
