Mets Minors MiLB.tv Series Preview: Las Vegas 51s @ Reno Aces

Dates: April 21-24

Current Record: 6-6, 1 GB of Albuquerque/El Paso

Probables

All times are EST

Tuesday at 9:35 PM

Darin Gorski – 2-0, 1.80 ERA, 5.56 FIP, 19.5 K%: 14.6 BB%, 0.90 HR/9

@ Justin Marks – 1-1, 8.68 ERA, 3.85 FIP, 15.6 K%: 8.9 BB%, 0 HR/9

Wednesday at 4:05 PM

Tyler Pill – 0-0, 12.86 ERA, 8.20 FIP, 8.8 K%: 8.8 BB%, 2.57 HR/9

@ Allen Webster – 0-1, 19.29 ERA, 6.63 FIP, 11.9 K%: 11.9 BB%, 1.29 HR/9

Thursday at 9:35 PM

Rafael Montero – 0-0, 3.38 ERA, 2.94 FIP, 27.3 K%: 9.1 BB%, 0 HR/9

@ A.J. Schugel – 0-1, 21.00 ERA, 7.73 FIP, 22.2 K%: 11.1 BB%, 3 HR/9

Friday at 9:35 PM

Noah Syndergaard – 0-0, 4.70 ERA, 6.28 FIP, 20 K%: 17.1 BB%, 1.17 HR/9

@ Vidal Nuno – 2-0, 2.37 ERA, 3.69 FIP, 26.6 K%: 3.8 BB%, 0.95 HR/9

Last series for Las Vegas

Split 4 at home against Fresno: L 11-10, W 17-4, W 10-5, L 8-4

Top Arizona Diamondbacks prospects with the Reno Aces

 Organizational rankings are from the 2015 Baseball America Prospect Handbook

Robbie Ray, LH SP, 23

Ranked #11, BA Grade: 50, High risk

            Ray started Monday, so the 51s won’t see him this series, but he’s a lefty with a good fastball (reached 97 MPH in the AFL). He doesn’t have much to go with the fastball though, with BA naming his changeup as his second best pitch – ‘throws it with good arm speed, along with solid sink and tail.’ He apparently scrapped his curveball last year to focus on the slider, which was a below-average pitch at the end of 2014. Ray is most famous for being involved in both the Doug Fister-to-the-Nationals trade, and the Didi Gregorious trade.

Jake Barrett, RH RP, 23

Ranked #12, BA Grade: 45, Medium risk

            Barrett last pitched Sunday, so he’ll be plenty rested to close out some games for Reno this series. BA describes Barrett as a ‘durable, big-bodied strike thrower with a plus fastball (93-96, tops out at 98).’ He matches his big fastball with a plus slider that has ‘sharp down tilt with bite.’ He’ll mix in a changeup against lefties to keep them honest, but will make his money off of those first two pitches. He’s off to a hot start in 2015, so the 51s hope not to see him coming in with a lead.

Zach Borenstein, LH OF, 24

Ranked #26, BA Grade: 45, High risk

            Borenstein is an all-or-nothing left fielder who is off to a slow start for Reno this year (3-14, 4 SO). The 2013 California League (A+) MVP made the Diamondbacks top-30 because he’s a lefty bat with plus power potential in the upper levels of the minor leagues, but was ranked 26^th because he offers little else.

Recent 51s Injuries/Transactions

            In the last week, the 51s have lost Eric Campbell, Daniel Muno, Kevin Plawecki, and Hansel Robles to Mets promotions, while Nelfi Zapata, Duane Below and Rafael Montero have been added to the Las Vegas roster as replacements, so it would appear another move is coming, but nothing has been announced yet.

Storylines

Rafael Montero continues to stretch out for a spot start with the Mets. I missed where his fastball velocity was during his first start Sunday, as there were audio issues with the broadcast, but I will be paying close attention to that this outing. Also, his presence pushes Thor and Matz back a day, meaning Matz will start Saturday at home against Albuquerque.

Noah Syndergaard allayed some concerns about the health of his arm by reaching 99 MPH in his last start, but he was unusually wild as he continued to dust off some rust from missing time. Borenstein might be a tough matchup for him – power against power – but I think this is a lineup that Thor can beat up on. If so, I expect the #ReleaseTheThor (#PROMOATTHOR) tweets to begin en masse starting Friday night.

Darrell Ceciliani left Monday night’s game in the middle of the 3^rd inning for no apparent reason. He took his first at bat and handled a few singles hit his way in the top of the frame, so there was no obvious moment for injury, but he has missed time due to injuries throughout his career. Another possibility was his involvement in some sort of trade, but that likely would’ve been announced by now.

Any help coming? The Mets minor league announcers indicated that the Mets don’t want to promote anyone from Binghamton this early, but they appear to need another body for the roster.

            Dilson Herrera is riding a 6-game multi-hit streak, with a .467/.484/.700 slash over 31 PA during that time (4 2B, 1 HR).

51s PCL League Leaders

Dilson Herrera: t-2^nd in runs (12), t-8^th in hits (17)

Matt Reynolds: t-2^nd in RBI (15), t-2^nd in runs (12), t-3^rd in 2B (6), t-4^th in SB (3), 11^th in TB (27), t-11^th in hits (16)

Travis Taijeron: t-9^th in HR (3)

Kyle Johnson: t-3^rd in SB (4)
Alex Castellanos: 7^th in SLG (.744), 6^th in OPS (1.195), 5^th in TB (32), t-7^th in RBI (12), t-9^th in HR (3), t-3^rd in 2B, t-6^th in runs (11)

"100,000 Galaxies, and No Obvious Signs of Life" http://t.co/UjwZv0YNAd pic.twitter.com/Hr2GKGbf8k
— Universe Today (@universetoday) April 21, 2015