Big time: Syndergaard commands spotlight

NEW YORK — Noah Syndergaard didn’t want to say it, but others did. As May games go, this was a big one for the Mets.

Syndergaard didn’t need to say it. You didn’t need to hear him. You only had to watch him.

He took control of the first big National League East matchup of the season, and he didn’t let go. He took on Max Scherzer. He took on Bryce Harper.

He carried a five-hit shutout through seven innings, and he sent the Mets to a 2-0 win over the Nationals on Tuesday night.

“He’s special, man,” catcher Kevin Plawecki said. “No stage is too big. No moment is too big. It only gets better.”

The stage Tuesday was Citi Field, with a lively crowd attracted by a great pitching matchup and the first 2016 game of an emerging rivalry. The moment was a game the Mets really wanted after a 4-7 trip out west, but a game they had to play without David Wright or Lucas Duda.

• Back issues keep Wright, Duda out of action

Scherzer was coming off his 20-strikeout game from last week, and he was also facing the Mets for the first time since his Oct. 3 no-hitter. He wasn’t at his spectacular best Tuesday, but …

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