Phillies set date for highly anticipated Noah Syndergaard debut

Noah Syndergaard will make his Phillies debut at home on August 4.

Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Zack Wheeler can no longer say he is the only former New York Mets ace who now wears red pinstripes.

For three seasons (2017-19), the 2021 National League All-Star appeared in the Phillies rival’s starting rotation alongside fellow righty Noah Syndergaard. Now, the duo has reunited following Tuesday’s trade that sent former top pick Mickey Moniak and fellow outfield prospect Jadiel Sanchez back to the Los Angeles Angels.

Syndergaard was supposed to start on Tuesday, but will instead make his 16th start of the 2022 season — and Phillies debut — a couple of days later. According to MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki, the right-hander will start Thursday’s four-game home series opener against the Washington Nationals.

The game will kick off Phillies Alumni Weekend. Fans coming to see Syndergaard make his first start in a Phillies uniform will also receive a Mike Schmidt 1980 World Champions Replica Ring.

A 2010 Toronto Blue Jays first-round draft pick, Syndergaard was traded just once before in his career. In December 2012, he and catcher Travis d’Arnaud — who the Phillies previously dealt for Roy Halladay — were part of the swap that sent R.A. Dickey to the American League East club.

With a 5-8 record and 3.83 ERA in 2022, Syndergaard has not produced much better career numbers at Citizens Bank Park either — having gone 2-2 with a 4.71 ERA through six starts. But, the Phillies hope they can unlock some of the seven-year veteran’s early career magic — such as his lone All-Star season in 2016. That year, Syndergaard went 14-9 with a 2.60 ERA, along with an MLB-best 2.29 FIP and 0.5 home runs per nine innings ratio.

Syndergaard facing a new-look Washington Nationals lineup on Thursday surely will not be a detriment, considering the club no longer has outfielder Juan Soto and first baseman Josh Bell in its lineup. Both sluggers were dealt in a blockbuster trade deadline day move to the San Diego Padres — one of the Phils’ Wild Card race competitors.