Dave Roberts all but officially says Noah Syndergaard is done with Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers are a team that can afford to let a player such as Noah Syndergaard work through his mechanical/mental issues because of how talented the rest of the roster is. Well, usually that'd be the case.

Problem is, the entire Dodgers' pitching staff is a disaster, plagued with injuries and regressions. You know things are badly broken when Evan Phillips gives up a walk-off home run to a guy who's never homered in his career. The Dodgers might be staring at the point of no return with momentous moves on the horizon.

And it probably starts with Syndergaard, who was brought in on a $13 million contract with hopes of bouncing back in his second full season following Tommy John surgery. What the Dodgers got instead has been one of the worst performers of any starting pitcher in MLB thus far.

So when he rocked by the Reds on Wednesday night to the tune of six earned runs on seven hits over three innings, manager Dave Roberts had no choice but to be blunt in the postgame.

How much longer can the Dodgers tolerate Thor's 7.16 ERA, especially with all the run support he's been gifted this year?

Did Dave Roberts just seal Noah Syndergaard's fate with Dodgers?

Whether Syndergaard is still bothered my mental obstacles, mechanical issues, a finger blister or a fingernail break, it doesn't really matter. This is unsustainable play for somebody on a team with high expectations such as the Dodgers. Syndergaard is literally among the worst starters in Dodgers history through his first 12 outings with the team.

The Dodgers have scored 63 runs (an average of 5.25 per game) in games where Syndergaard starts. He's 1-4 and the Dodgers have lost eight of those games. Granted ... three of those losses came during Syndergaard's only quality starts against the D-Backs, Cubs and Mets, but even if those had been victories, it probably would've have altered the discussion.

Roberts was candid in his postgame comments about Syndergaard, revealing that the team is going to sit down with the right-hander and determine next steps because the team "cannot sustain at this pace" with his performance.

The Dodgers have top prospect Bobby Miller blowing Syndergaard out of the water. Heck, Michael Grove might even be a better option at this point. But with Dustin May on the shelf until likely August, Julio Urías not looking completely like himself this year, and Tony Gonsolin still not convincing anybody he's a postseason starter, the Dodgers can't afford more futility in the rotation.

The Dodgers are fortunate to be where they are right now, but pressing their luck with Syndergaard is an ill-advised move after all the evidence they have laid out in front of them.

Whether it's an IL stint, demotion or DFA, something is coming. And it's coming soon.

And it's an IL stint!

If he comes back and struggles, don't expect him to be with the team much longer after that.