Lamet vs. Thor gives Padres food for thought

NEW YORK -- If general manager A.J. Preller was planning to keep a sharp eye on Noah Syndergaard on Wednesday night, he got the full Syndergaard experience.

In San Diego's 7-2 victory at Citi Field on Wednesday, the Mets' hard-throwing right-hander mixed the good with the bad -- as he has all season. He struck out eight and flashed some filthy stuff. He also gave up four runs (three earned), as the Padres capitalized on his mistakes.

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Syndergaard, of course, is one of the sport's most sought-after trade targets. The Deadline looms a week from Wednesday, and the Padres are in the market for a controllable frontline starter. With a contract that runs through the 2021 season, Syndergaard fits the bill.

But just how badly do the Padres even need to add a starter? Surely, that’s one of the most pressing questions on Preller’s mind these days. Right-hander Dinelson Lamet worked four innings of two-run ball on Wednesday, and as with Syndergaard, his outing posed something of a riddle.

Lamet showed flashes of brilliance en route to six strikeouts, but he also needed 80 laborious pitches to get there. He is one of a handful of young rotation options with upside. He’s also yet to fully realize his potential.

“We know he’s going to,” manager Andy Green said. “Ultimately, like with any pitcher, it’s on them. The more efficient they are, the deeper they’ll work in the game.”

The bullpen did a masterful job in relief of Lamet, who was on a pitch count as he continues to build his way back from Tommy John surgery. Matt Strahm struck out four over two innings, and Craig Stammen escaped a bases-loaded jam in the seventh by getting Michael Conforto to whiff with a pinpoint sinker off the outside corner.

As for Syndergaard, he dealt with some shoddy defense as the Padres rallied for three runs in the third, including RBI hits from Hunter Renfroe and Franmil Reyes, but he settled in for four scoreless frames after that.

“He's nasty,” said catcher Austin Hedges, who went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. “That's a power two-seamer at 100, with four plus pitches. He made a nice adjustment, started going with that curveball early in the count to slow us all down. ... Obviously, he's an outstanding pitcher. You never know what's going to happen, but he's an outstanding pitcher.”

There are question marks surrounding every available arm on the trade market, and Syndergaard is no exception. Through 20 starts this season, his ERA sits at 4.33. He has plenty of big-game experience, and he’s been an ace in the past. It’s just worth wondering when -- or if -- he’ll return to that level.

It’s worth noting, too, that the Padres’ pursuit of a starting pitcher isn’t an urgent one. They’re building for the long-term and aren’t pursuing any rental options. That leaves them with a series of questions to weigh over the next week:

• Are there enough in-house arms to turn the Padres into a contender? (If not for this season, then by next season at the latest.)

• Even if there are, could this group use an upgrade to push it over the top?

• How much would the Padres be willing to pay for an upgrade like Syndergaard? (They have a deep farm system, but prospects are gold in Preller’s eyes.)

• Is it better to wait until the offseason, when the price tag might be different on these arms?

For Preller and the Padres, there aren’t any easy answers. But Wednesday’s matchup gave them plenty to think about.