Mets Minors MiLB.tv Series Preview: Las Vegas 51s @ Albuquerque Isotopes

Dates: May 4-7, 2015

Current Record: 16-8, 1^st place, 1 Game ahead of El Paso

Probables

All times are EST

Monday at 8:35 PM

Tyler Pill (0-0, 9.00 ERA, 7.92 FIP, 12.5 K%: 9.7 BB%, 2.81 HR/9)

@ John Lannan (0-0, 3.21 ERA, 3.17 FIP, 18 K%: 8.2 BB%, 0 HR/9)

Tuesday at 8:35 PM

Steven Matz (3-1, 1.84 ERA, 2.99 FIP, 27.2 K%: 12.3 BB%, 0 HR/9)

@ Chris Russin (1-2, 6.23 ERA, 5.84 FIP, 9.7 K%: 4.9 BB%, 1.66 HR/9)

Wednesday at 8:35 PM

Duane Below (1-1, 1.64 ERA, 4.40 FIP, 25 K%: 4.2 BB%, 1.64 HR/9)

@ David Hale (0-1, 15.00 ERA, 6.01 FIP, 18.4 K%: 10.5 BB%, 1.5 HR/9)

Thursday at 1:05 PM

Noah Syndergaard (2-0, 1.66 ERA, 2.98 FIP, 31 K%: 9.5 BB%, 0.42 HR/9)

@ Jon Gray (1-3, 9.13 ERA, 4.47 FIP, 17.3 K%: 8.2 BB%, 0.79 HR/9)

Last series for Las Vegas 51s

Swept 4 from Reno at home: W 7-2, W 4-3, W 3-0, W 5-2

Top prospects for the Colorado Rockies with Albuquerque

Organizational rankings are from the 2015 Baseball America Prospect Handbook

Jon Gray, RH SP, 23

Ranked #2, BA Grade: 65, High risk

            Gray is the Rockies top-pitching prospect thanks to his mid-to-upper 90’s heat, and a devastating changeup. He also features a slider that is currently an average pitch, but has the potential to be plus considering how hard he throws. He also has good control of his pitches per BA, so it’s easy to understand the hype. On the downside, he’s pitching in the PCL, and that hasn’t been easy for him so far this year. Las Vegas jumped on him for 7 ER on 10 H over 3.2 IP last Monday, and we’ll likely see a Gray/Thor rematch in this one – assuming Thor has found that next level, this is like a battle of early-2014-Thor/Present-Gray vs. Present-Thor/Gray’s-Potential (if that makes sense).

Kyle Parker, RHH OF/1B, 25

Ranked #20, BA Grade: 45, Medium risk

            Parker has good right-handed power and some major league experience under his belt, as he got a cup o’ coffee with the Rox in 2014, but projects to more of a complementary role at the highest level, per BA. He is below-average defensively in the OF, and probably won’t provide enough offense to stick at 1B/DH in the majors, but he can mash lefties in a platoon/bench role. He is off to a very slow start to 2015, so hopefully he’s not about to break out.

Recent Injuries/Transactions

            The Las Vegas 51s moved Matthew Bowman to the 7-day DL with Las Vegas this past weekend, although no reasons were given initially. Nelfi Zapata has already been transferred on-and-off the 51s roster twice, and another round may be coming. Alex Castellanos was removed for precautionary reasons Saturday night after he felt a twinge in his hamstring.

Storylines

            The 51s are riding a 10-game winning streak as they head to Albuquerque, who lost 4 to Las Vegas last week as part of an 8-game losing streak – they have since won 2 in a row. Las Vegas has been getting great pitching during this streak, but almost equally great offense. The offense might take a hit if Castellanos is out, as he and Dilson had been the two best hitters for the team since Campbell left.

            Can Matz and Thor keep rolling? Both are coming off two of the most dominant starts I’ve seen in the PCL, so there is definite anticipation for what they can do this week. If the Mets choose to use another spot starter late in May, it’s very possible that either Thor or Matz end up getting the nod. Fans should be happy the Mets have held on to these guys, as they can make the Mets rotation special for a long time.

League Leaders

R: Alex Castellanos, t-1^st (21); Matt Reynolds, 3^rd (20); Dilson Herrera, t-4^th (18)

H: Dilson Herrera, t-6^th (30); Matt Reynolds, t-6^th (30); Alex Castellanos, 19^th (26)

2B: Matt Reynolds, t-1^st (12); Dilson Herrera, t-5^th (8); Alex Castellanos, t-5^th (8)

HR: Alex Castellanos, t-2^nd (7); Travis Taijeron, t-8^th (5); Johnny Monell, t-15^th

RBI: Matt Reynolds, 2^nd (23), Alex Castellanos, 6^th (20); Johnny Monell, t-13^th (15); Travis Taijeron, t-18^th (14)

SB: Matt Reynolds, t-4^th (6); Wilfredo Tovar, t-7^th (5); Kyle Johnson, t-7^th (5)

AVG: Johnny Monell, 1^st (.397); Dilson Herrera, 2^nd (.370); Alex Castellanos, 6^th (.356); Travis Taijeron, 8^th (.344); Matt Reynolds, 16^th (.326)

OBP: Alex Castellanos, 1^st (.460); Johnny Monell, 2^nd (.455); Travis Taijeron, 6^th (.419); Dilson Herrera, 12^th (.402); Matt Reynolds, 18^th (.393)

ISO: Alex Castellanos, 1^st (.452); Darrell Ceciliani, 5^th (.327); Travis Taijeron, 12^th (.266); Johnny Monell, 16^th (.241)

BB%: Brandon Allen, 12^th (15.7%)

K%: Wilfredo Tovar, t-4^th (8%); Dilson Herrera, 13^th (11.5%); Travis Taijeron, last (36.5%)

wRC+: Alex Castellanos, 1^st (231); Johnny Monell, 2^nd (193); Travis Taijeron, 5^th (175); Matt Reynolds, 12^th (148); Dilson Herrera, 16^th (146); Darrell Ceciliani, 20^th (142)

IP: Steven Matz, 5^th (29.1); Darin Gorski, 19^th (24.2)

ERA: Noah Syndergaard, 3^rd (1.66); Steven Matz, 5^th (1.84)

FIP: Noah Syndergaard, 2^nd (2.98); Steven Matz, 3^rd (2.99)

K%: Noah Syndergaard, 2^nd (31%); Steven Matz, 5^th (27.2%)
BB%: Matthew Bowman, 13^th (5.3%)

Pulsar with widest orbit ever detected http://t.co/WJ2WxoIKD3 #astronomy pic.twitter.com/RL4MicIC9i

— Space Corps (@YourSpaceCorps) May 4, 2015