It appears that another Mets starting pitcher has chosen Tomas Nido to be his personal catcher.
After Jacob deGrom made the switch from Wilson Ramos to Nido earlier this season, Noah Syndergaard now seems to be following suit.
According to a report from the New York Post, Syndergaard returned from the Injured List asking to have Nido as his catcher, which the Mets obliged on Sunday night.
Mickey Callaway addressed the team's decision to play Nido on Sunday before Tuesday's game with the Yankees.
"With what we're trying to do with Syndergaard, keeping the ball down, [Nido] is a good complementary catcher for him," Callaway told the Post. "He receives the ball down better, so it's something we have to continue to do."
Ramos also spoke about the situation before Tuesday's game, saying that while it's the first time in his career that his has happened to him, he respects the team's decision.
"Sometimes that happens," Ramos said. "I have seen that in my career a lot, but like I say I'm not making the lineup. I try to do my best job behind the plate, I try to protect my pitcher as best I can and if they don't feel comfortable with me, I have nothing more to do. I try to give 100% behind the plate and protect them. If they feel good, I'm good. But if they feel bad I feel bad too, but it's nothing I can control. Sometimes that happens, but you have to be a professional."
Syndergaard has allowed just five earned runs in the three games (good for a 2.29 ERA) he's started with Nido behind the plate, compared to his 4.69 ERA in 11 starts with Ramos as his battery mate. Whether it's a coincidence or not, opposing hitter are also batting at a higher clip against Syndergaard with Ramos behind the plate (.249) than with Nido (.194).
Nido has been behind the plate for Syndergaard in two of his last three starts, including Sunday night against the Yankees, and the right-hander has allowed just three earned in 12.2 innings in those two games.
The Mets signed Ramos to a two-year contract this past offseason, looking to add an experienced right-handed hitter in the middle of their lineup. He has hit pretty well in his first season with the Mets, batting .270 with nine home runs and 41 runs driven in, but it now seems like 40 percent of the Mets' starting rotation prefers Nido behind the dish.