The Pirates weren't expecting to face Noah Syndergaard when the Mets come to PNC Park later this week for a four-game series.
Turns out, Syndergaard won't be facing anyone for a little while.
On Sunday, the Mets placed their ace on the 10-day DL, but not with a shoulder, elbow or any typical baseball-related injury or ailment. Nope, Syndergaard is sidelined after exhibiting symptoms of hand, foot and mouth disease, a viral illness that normally affects children under the age of 5.
The 25-year-old right-hander is 6-1 with a 2.89 ERA this season for the NL East cellar-dwelling Mets.
Mets manager Mickey Callaway suspects Syndergaard contracted the illness while hosting a baseball camp for kids Thursday in North Jersey. During his start on Friday against the Yankees, Syndergaard experienced a noticeable drop in velocity -- 98.1 mph in the first to 93 in the fourth -- and noticed blisters on his hands before leaving the Mets' 7-5 win.
"During the game, he didn't quite figure it out. He knew he had trouble breathing," Callaway said. "I put my hands on his legs to talk to him when he came out and said, 'Hey, man. Is everything OK?' And I felt his leg shaking. So he was just weak and run-down, and I think the virus just took its toll."
Syndergaard will miss his scheduled start Wednesday against the Padres but could return to his regular spot in the rotation following New York's series in Pittsburgh.