Despite Learning Curve, Noah Syndergaard's Debut Highlights Mets' Pitching Hoard

Noah Syndergaard didn't have a perfect debut for the New York Mets. But on Tuesday night at Wrigley Field he teased the stuff that makes him one of the game's top young arms and added another weapon to the Mets' already stocked pitching arsenal.

Through five innings, it looked like Syndergaard might have a truly special evening. Flashing a fastball that sat in the high 90s and an array of off-speed stuff, the big 22-year-old right-hander with the blond surfer-dude locks flummoxed a talented Chicago Cubs lineup and put zeroes on the board.

Then in the sixth, Chicago broke through with three runs, sending Syndergaard to the showers with a solid but not spectacular line: 5.1 innings pitched, three earned runs, six hits, six strikeouts and four walks.

There were moments when the control faltered, when Syndergaard looked like a rookie shaking off his MLB-debut jitters. That's to be expected. 

And, sure, New York ultimately lost 6-1 in the second game of an intriguing four-game set between two National League teams on the rise.

Big picture, though, Syndergaard was as advertised. He lived up to the hype and threw like the guy ESPN's Keith Law ranked the No. 17 prospect in the game.

Matt Slocum/Associated Press

Syndergaard doesn't have to be a savior; he joins a rotation that's already laden with talent.

Matt Harvey is the ace, back from Tommy John surgery and pitching like he never left. Through 39.2 innings, Harvey owns a 2.72 ERA and an extra-stingy 0.96 WHIP with 38 strikeouts.

And the 26-year-old right-hander is delivering gas, with an average fastball velocity of 94.9 mph, per FanGraphs.

Reigning NL Rookie of the Year Jacob deGrom has had a few hiccups in his sophomore campaign but boasts a solid 3.46 ERA.

Then there's 28-year-old left-hander Jon Niese, who has allowed just eight earned runs in 37 innings. And don't forget Bartolo Colon, the ageless wonder, who sports a 6-1 record and 3.30 ERA in his 18th big league campaign.

Colon also inspired the tweet of the night, courtesy of Sporting News' Jesse Spector:

That's not all: Dillon Gee, whose groin injury opened the door for Syndergaard's call-up, was having a nice start to his year, posting a 3.86 ERA through five starts.

Down on the farm, meanwhile, southpaw Steven Matz is dominating the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League with a 1.70 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 42.1 innings.

In fact, general manager Sandy Alderson suggested Matz made the decision to call up Syndergaard slightly less than automatic.

"[He's] got a lot of talent, got a lot of potential and [would] be an equally qualified candidate," Alderson said, per Mike Vorkunov of NJ.com.

Add it up and that's seven arms that would slot nicely into most big league rotations. Plus, we haven't even mentioned Zack Wheeler, a burgeoning front-line starter lost for this season to Tommy John surgery, but who is under team control through 2019.

This, ladies and gentlemen, is the definition of a good problem to have.

Yes, the Washington Nationals' vaunted super-rotation will continue to grab headlines. And the Nats may well come out on top in the NL East arms race when all is said and done.

For now, though, the Mets have a group of hurlers that'll go toe-to-toe with anyone's. Their 2.90 team ERA entering play Tuesday ranked second in the game, behind only the St. Louis Cardinals (2.75).

And even after Tuesday's loss, they lead where it counts most: in the standings. Can it continue? With this much pitching—the formula for success in today's MLB—why not?

With this many surplus arms, the Mets will also be well positioned at the July 31 trade deadline if they decide to upgrade the offense.

That's a discussion for another time, though. For tonight, we'll simply say: Welcome to the big leagues, Noah Syndergaard. You're in good company.

All statistics current as of May 12 and courtesy of MLB.com unless otherwise noted.