Dodgers broadcaster Charley Steiner summed Wednesday afternoon’s game between the Dodgers and Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium succinctly in six words: “Another rugged outing for Noah Syndergaard.”

Steiner was actually being rather kind. Syndergaard himself summed it up far more accurately and much less kind:

“It really sucks. Right now I feel like I’m the only weakest link on this team.” a visibly shaken Syndergaard told reporters postgame. “I’m going to go out there and compete to try and be successful with the other guys in this clubhouse. It’s just not working out.

“Trying to make big adjustments between starts isn’t easy. I’d give my hypothetical first born to be the old me again,” he added. “I’ll do everything possible to get back to that. I’m still expected to go out there and compete. … My changeup is a huge vulnerability.”

Those comments came after yet another disastrous outing by the 30-year-old Mansfield, TX native and first round draft pick in 2010 by the Toronto Blue Jays out of Legacy High School in Mansfield, who the Dodgers signed to a one-year/$13 million contract extension this past December.

To the surprise of many (most) Dodgers fans, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts kept ‘Thor’ out there for 5.0 innings, even though it was abundantly clear that the once very good 6′-6″ right-hander just didn’t have it. The former All-Star allowed five runs on seven hits (including three home runs), while walking two and striking out two on 96 total pitches, of which only 57 were strikes (59.37%).

When asked point blank if Syndergaard would make his next scheduled start against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park next week, Roberts gave a less-than-point-blank response:

“Um, I don’t know. The hope is that he does,” the Dodgers skipper replied evasively. “Right now I just don’t want to answer that question. I hate the idea of when you’re at the beginning of June to have a tryout camp, but we’ve got to figure out some stability and dependability. We’re still trying to figure that out, unfortunately.”

“He’s struggling right now. Several guys are struggling,” Dodgers catcher Will Smith said postgame in defense of Syndergaard. “I know Noah specifically is going to keep working his ass off. That’s what he does. No doubt he’ll come back at some point, whether that’s his next start or his start after that. He’s too good of a pitcher not to come back.”

Things won’t be getting any easier for Roberts’ team. After a scheduled off-day on Thursday, the Dodgers welcome in ‘The Evil Empire’ for a three-game interleague series against the American League East third-place New York Yankees.

Stay tuned…

  *  *  *  *  *  *