NEW YORK -- The prognosis on Noah Syndergaard was never optimistic. It became even less so Thursday, when a re-examination of Syndergaard's right lat revealed that the muscle is not healing as quickly as the Mets initially hoped. As such, Syndergaard will not begin throwing for at least another four weeks, according to general manager Sandy Alderson.
The new best-case scenario for Syndergaard, who has not pitched since April 30, is a late-August return. By that point, he will have missed roughly two-thirds of the regular season.
"Nothing specific happened," Alderson said. "The state of his right lat was re-evaluated today and the prescription was basically more rest, more plyometrics, more rehab before he starts throwing."

Syndergaard's initial timetable had him potentially throwing as soon as this month, with a return possible in mid to late July. The new timetable makes it unlikely that Syndergaard can rejoin the Mets before late August, or possibly even September. Once doctors clear Syndergaard to throw, he will need to progress to long toss, mound work, live batting practice and, eventually, rehab games, in which he will build his arm strength up to endure the rigors of a 100-pitch workload. That process typically takes starting pitchers around six weeks.
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For Syndergaard, the lat injury is a saga that began in April, when he skipped a start due to right biceps tendinitis and subsequently declined an MRI. In his next outing, Syndergaard tore his lat.
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"I don't regret it at all," Syndergaard said of his declined MRI on WFAN last week. "I threw a bullpen two days prior and I felt great, ready to go. Just something weird happened."
A preseason favorite to contend for the National League Cy Young Award, Syndergaard went 1-2 with a 3.29 ERA in five starts prior to his injury.