Noah Syndergaard hard on himself after rough outing

Noah Syndergaard has seen his ERA steadily climb during the month of August, and the star right-hander is not making any excuses for his recent stretch of below-average outings.

Syndergaard allowed four runs over six innings in Monday’s 7-4 loss to the Chicago Cubs, and he told reporters after the game that he feels like he is “wasting my ability to throw a baseball.”

Noah Syndergaard, harsh self-critic: "I just feel like every five days right now I'm just kind of wasting my ability to throw a baseball. My stuff's too good to go out there and go six innings and give up four runs with nine basehits. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense."

— Tim Britton (@TimBritton) August 28, 2018

While Syndergaard wasn’t exactly shelled, you can understand why he was frustrated after walking three batters and allowing a two-run single to opposing pitcher Jon Lester. As someone who has allowed two or less earned runs in nine of 19 starts this season, he obviously holds himself to a high standard. Monday’s outing marked the third time in his last six starts that Syndergaard has given up four runs.

Syndergaard still has a 3.51 ERA on the season, but that’s his worst mark since his first year as a starter with the Mets in 2015. Given how New York has struggled this season and the rumors that surrounded him at the trade deadline, it’s fair to wonder if focus could be an issue.