Mets Minors MiLB.tv Series Preview: Binghamton Mets @ New Hampshire Fisher Cats

Binghamton starts their road trip with 4 (and a half) games in New Hampshire

Dates: April 23-26

Current Record: 8-5, t-1^st with Trenton

Probables

All times are EST

Thursday at 6:35 PM

Rainy Lara (2-0, 2.31 ERA, 3.20 FIP, 15.9 K%: 9.1 BB%, 0 HR/9)

@ Michael Lee (0-1, 5.40 ERA, 4.37 FIP, 15.1 K%: 9.4 BB%, 0.77 HR/9)

Friday at 6:35 PM

Gabriel Ynoa (1-0, 2.25 ERA, 3.79 FIP, 9.8 K%: 9.8 BB%, 0 HR/9)

@ John Anderson (0-1, 5.40 ERA, 5.74 FIP, 10.8 K%: 13.5 BB%, 1.08 HR/9)

Saturday at 5:35 PM

Luis Cessa (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.46 FIP, 30 K%: 2.5 BB%, 0 HR/9)

@ Matt Boyd (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.46 FIP, 44.4 K%: 13 BB%, 0 HR/9)

Sunday at 1:35 PM

John Gant (0-1, 6.75 ERA, 3.69 FIP, 13.3 K%: 11.1 BB%, 0 HR/9)

@ Taylor Cole (0-1, 7.43 ERA, 3.71 FIP, 23.8 K%: 4.8 BB%, 1.35 HR/9)

Last series for the B-Mets

Won both games of a rain-shortened series at home against Erie: W 4-3, W 5-2

Top prospects for the Toronto Blue Jays with New Hampshire

Organizational rankings are from the 2015 Baseball America Prospect Handbook

Dwight Smith Jr., LHH OF, 22

Ranked #14, BA Grade: 45, Medium risk

            Smith has hit the ground running in AA, hitting .321/.357/.434 over the first two weeks of the season with 4 extra base hits (3 2B, 1 HR). Although he has played some CF early in his career, scouts expect him to move to the corner in time due to his average speed, and LF specifically due to a weak arm – he’s only played LF so far in 2015. He doesn’t have any true plus physical tools, but makes up for it with an advanced approach at the plate, stroking line drives all over the field, and displaying above average K: BB rates. He’s more of a doubles threat than a homerun threat, but his ‘quick, compact and direct stroke’ makes him a real threat.

A.J. Jimenez, RH C, 24

Ranked #23, BA Grade: 45, High risk

            Jimenez is old for the league due to injuries setting him back throughout his career, specifically a Tommy John Surgery in 2012. He made the Blue Jays top-30 because of his excellent defense behind the plate, which should open the door to the majors for him some day. He doesn’t offer much offensively though, so his role will likely be backup at the highest level. He’s only 2-21 with 6 SO to start 2015.

Matt Boyd, LH SP, 24

Ranked #29, BA Grade: 45, High risk

            Boyd is off to a great start for New Hampshire in 2015, striking out 24 AA batters in just 14.1 IP, with only 1 unearned run allowed on 4 hits and 7 walks. Boyd throws the standard four pitches, with his fastball sitting 88-91 (topping out at 93 MPH), and his secondaries considered average offerings coming into the season. Of the three, his changeup shows swing-and-miss potential, as it has late fade.

Recent Injuries/Transactions

            Domingo Tapia and T.J. Rivera left Saturday’s game for various injuries, moved to the DL, and were replaced on the roster by Jake Kuebler (promoted from St. Lucie) and Jairo Perez (was on the taxi-squad). Gavin Cecchini has been out dealing with a sore groin, and manager Pedro Lopez wants him back at 100% before he’s back in the lineup. Also, there is still no word on Michael Fulmer’s return.

Storylines

            Two things to watch with Brandon Nimmo: how well is he turning on/handling inside pitches, and how well is he hitting against lefties. Unfortunately, New Hampshire’s camera set up during their first home stand was pretty bad, so I’m not sure how much good footage I’ll get this series. Nimmo spent the offseason working on his approach with the same guy who helped Matt Reynold before his breakout 2014, and then spent Spring Training working with B-Mets hitting coach Luis Natera on handling inside pitches. The big question many fans have about Nimmo right now is, ‘how is he handling southpaws?’ Due to random scheduling, the B-Mets haven’t faced many lefties, so Nimmo only has 5 PA so far, but he should get some chances during this series in New Hampshire, who have two lefty starters scheduled.

            When will Gavin Cecchini return, and can he slide right back into the form that had him starting the year in Carson Cistulli’s Fringe Five? I’m glad Lopez is being extra cautious with this groin injury now, because otherwise it could keep bugging him for weeks, and who knows how that would affect his play.

            The B-Mets have won so far on the heels of good starting pitching and timely hitting. Four of their starters have ERA’s at 2.31 or lower: Luis Cessa, Seth Lugo, Gabriel Ynoa, and Rainy Lara. The offense has taken a hit without two of the B-Mets best early season hitters – T.J. Rivera and Gavin Cecchini – but Brandon Nimmo and Jayce Boyd have been hot after slow starts, and Eudy Pina seems to always come up with timely hits. Gabriel Ynoa needs to bounce back from a start where he allowed more walks than he normally gives up in two starts, and start getting some more swings-and-misses. Can Luis Cessa keep up his early season dominance? John Gant had a better second start with Bingo, now can he do it again?

League Leaders

Offense

Hits: Jayce Boyd, t-7^th (15); T.J. Rivera, t-7^th (15)

2B: Boyd, t-6^th (4)

HR: Dustin Lawley, t-4^th (2); Brandon Nimmo, t-4^th (2); Aderlin Rodriguez, t-4^th (2); Josh Rodriguez, t-4^th (2)

BB: J. Rodriguez, t-10^th (7)

AVG: Rivera, 1^st (.441), Gavin Cecchini, 10^th (.333)

OBP: Rivera, t-4^th (.472); J. Rodriguez, 7^th (.442)

SLG: Cecchini, 6^th (.567); Rivera, t-9^th (.529); J. Rodriguez, t-9^th (.529)

OPS: Rivera, 5^th (1.002); Cecchini, 7^th (.978); J. Rodriguez, 8^th (.971)

Pitching

ERA: Luis Cessa, t-1^st (0.00)*

Saves: Jon Velasquez, 1^st (4)

IP: Matt Koch, t-8^th (16.1 IP)

WHIP: Cessa, 2^nd (0.55)*

*Seth Lugo just missed the top-10 cut with a 1.54 ERA and 0.94 WHIP so far

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