Syndergaard (9-4) pitched 5.2 innings, allowing one unearned run, seven hits and two walks while striking out eight Tuesday against the Cubs. He did not factor in the decision.
Syndergaard needed 105 pitches to work his way out of a few jams in his first start since leaving his July 8 outing early due to arm fatigue. He quelled any concerns about his arm strength by pumping his fastball at 97-plus mph throughout most of the night, including one clocked at 100 mph in the first inning. In his 43rd game, Syndergaard also reached 300 career K's, making him the third-fastest among active pitchers to do so -- Yu Darvish notched 300 in 37 games, and Jose Fernandez reached the mark in 42 games.