Mets right-hander Noah Syndergaard tests positive for COVID-19

Syndergaard, who turned 29 on Sunday, essentially confirmed that he had tested positive for the coronavirus in a tweet. 

The former All-Star has not pitched since 2019, having undergone Tommy John surgery during spring training in 2020. He suffered a setback in his recovery earlier this summer, further delaying his return to the mound. 

Last week, Mets acting general manager Zack Scott said Syndergaard could potentially return to the Mets this season as a reliever rather than a starter based on how much time it normally takes a starter to work back from an injury. 

However, the regular season ends Oct. 3, and the Mets currently aren't in playoff position. With that being said, New York might be better off letting Syndergaard continue to rehab in the minor leagues and plan for a return in 2022.

Syndergaard went 10-8 in 2019 with a 4.28 ERA, 1.234 WHIP and 202 strikeouts in 197.2 innings. It's unclear how he'll perform once he returns.