The New York Mets' disaster of a season has taken another bizarre turn, as right-handed pitcher Noah Syndergaard is going on the 10-day disabled list after reportedly contracting hand, foot and mouth disease, a viral illness that normally affects children younger than 5 years old. According to ESPN, Scheduled will miss his next start Wednesday, but it is believed he could be back for his following turn in the rotation.
"Sounds like once the blisters and everything -- or whatever he's got going on on his hands -- clears up, he's going to be fine," Mets manager Mickey Callaway said Sunday, per ESPN.
Syndergaard, 25, was taken out of his start Friday night against the New York Yankees after just five innings, following a noticeable drop in velocity on his fastball and sinker. Mets manager Mickey Callaway believes the hand, foot and mouth disease "had everything" to with the drop in velocity on his pitches.
"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."
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hand, foot and mouth disease can spread when people who have it cough or sneeze. As a result, Syndergaard was sent home immediately after it was determined that he had contracted the disease. So far, Callaway says nobody else on the team has shown any symptoms.
The Mets are currently sitting in last place in the National League East with an abysmal 40-56 record.