Mets Minors MiLB.tv Series Preview: Binghamton Mets @ Altoona Curve

Dates: May 29-31, 2015

Current Record: 25-22, 5.5 Games behind New Britain

Probables

All times are EST

Friday at 6:00 PM

Michael Fulmer (1-0, 2.95 ERA, 3.94 FIP, 15.8 K%: 9.5 BB%, 0.42 HR/9)

@ Angel Sanchez (4-1, 3.02 ERA, 3.49 FIP, 14.4 K%: 6.2 BB%, 0.36 HR/9)

Saturday at 6:00 PM

Robert Gsellman (6-0, 1.76 ERA, 2.80 FIP, 18.9 K%: 5.6 BB%) – with St. Lucie

@ Jason Creasy (5-0, 2.82 ERA, 3.96 FIP, 12.5 K%: 7.4 BB%, 0.35 HR/9)

Sunday at 6:00 PM

Seth Lugo (2-2, 2.56 ERA, 2.73 FIP, 24.1 K%: 4.4 BB%, 0.47 HR/9)

@ Zack Dodson (2-2, 2.63 ERA, 3.64 FIP, 10.4 K%: 3.8 BB%, 0.38 HR/9)

Last series for B-Mets

Lost 2 out of 3 against Portland at home: L 8-5, L 3-2, W 2-0

Top prospects for the Pittsburgh Pirates with Altoona

Organizational rankings are from the 2015 Baseball America Prospect Handbook

Tyler Glasnow, RH SP, 21 (On DL)

Ranked #1, BA Grade: 70, High risk

Recovering from a sprained ankle, he was off to a quick start in his first taste of the EL.

Josh Bell, SH 1B, 22

Ranked #4, BA Grade: 60, Medium risk

Only has one homerun so far in 2015, but scouts expect power out of his big power, and a swing that naturally creates loft. He’s slashing .335/.405/.457 so far, with 15 K: 21 BB and 13 SBH (7 2B, 5 3B, HR).

Willy Garcia, RHH OF, 22

Ranked #12, BA Grade: 50, High risk

The power has disappeared in his return to AA this year, as he finished with 50 XBH (27 2B, 5 3B, 18 HR) in 126 games last year compared to just 5 in 38 games so far, but he’s kept up a high average (.295).

Chad Kuhl, RH SP, 22

Ranked #28, BA Grade: 45, Medium risk

Kuhl has pitched at least 6 innings in 7 straight starts, but the B-Mets miss him.

Recent Injuries/Transactions

            The B-Mets lost Jayce Boyd (promotion to Las Vegas) and John Gant (demotion to St. Lucie), but gained Robert Gsellman, Michael Conforto, and Yeixon Ruiz.

Storylines

            The biggest story is definitely the addition of Michael Conforto to the B-Mets lineup. If Gavin Cecchini is still around when Brandon Nimmo comes back, the B-Mets could go Cheech-Nimmo-Conforto 1-2-3 at the top of the order, which would be like prospect porn for Mets fans. Robert Gsellman comes in as big story #1a, as he’s been one of the top pitchers in the FSL this year, and he’ll make his AA debut Saturday. Expect plenty of GIFs of both.

            Michael Fulmer is coming off one of his best AA outings of the year, but he has yet to strike out more than 4 batters in any of his AA starts – he had a 9 K: 0 BB ratio in his only start with St. Lucie. Hopefully he cant start missing some bats with more frequency this weekend, something the entire staff needs to improve upon. The only B-Mets starter still racking up K’s at a high rate is surprise stud Seth Lugo, who has been nearly unhittable when he’s commanding his breaking stuff. He allowed more than one walk in his last start, when he was charged with 4 ER over 6 IP.

            The work Eudy Pina and Aderlin Rodriguez have been doing with B-Mets hitting coach Luis Natera has paid off significantly recently, as both have been driving the ball more. Aderlin especially, as he was driving the ball to left center field this week like I’ve rarely seen in game action. I’d like to take a closer look at both of their recent surges, but they’ve been working on zoning pitches (the organizational philosophy).

            With the Mets making promotions in June, is anybody else with Binghamton leaving for Las Vegas soon? Gavin Cecchini is a prime candidate, and Dustin Lawley could take over 3B duties in Las Vegas at any point. Paul Sewald is one of the few pitchers who has earned a promo, although Dario Alvarez has the advantage of already being on the 40-man.

League Leaders

Top-20 EL, qualified only

R: Josh Rodriguez, t-10^th (26); Dustin Lawley, t-15^th (24)

H: Jayce Boyd, t-18^th (49) – Should be the last time on the EL leader boards list

2B: Boyd, t-1^st (16); Lawley, t-6^th (13)

3B: Eudy Pina, t-3^rd (4)

HR: J Rod, t-1^st (9)

RBI: J Rod, t-8^th (28); Aderlin Rodriguez, t-17^th (23)

AVG: Pina, 7^th (.322); J Rod, 16^th (.306); Boyd, 17^th (.304)

OBP: J Rod, t-8^th (.395); Brandon Nimmo, t-19^th (.368)

ISO: J Rod, 5^th (.231); Lawley, 14^th (.181); Cecchini, 17^th (.170); Ad Rod, 19^th (.164)

BB%: J Rod, 11^th (12.2%)

K%: Cecchini, 3^rd (9%); Boyd, 4^th (9.1%)

wRC+: J Rod, t-4^th (165); Cecchini, t-14^th (134)

IP: Gabriel Ynoa, t-19^th (47.2)

W: Luis Cessa, t-8^th (4)

Saves: Paul Sewald, t-5^th (8)

ERA: Seth Lugo, 6^th (2.56); Cessa, 16^th (3.09)

FIP: Lugo, 4^th (2.73); Cessa, 5^th (2.76); Rainy Lara, 17^th (3.58)

K%: Lugo, 4^th (24.1%); Cessa, 19^th (18.3%); Lara, 20^th (18.2%)

BB%: Lugo, 7^th (4.4%); Cessa, 12^th (5.4%); Lara, 16^th (6.5%)

AVG: Lugo, t-15^th (.242)

.@NASA satellites see #TropicalStorm Andres intensify http://t.co/c07EVwqXhr @NASA_Rain @NASAHurricane pic.twitter.com/9GgcalJ20E

— NASA Goddard (@NASAGoddard) May 29, 2015