Mets Minors MiLB.tv Series Preview: Binghamton Mets @ Akron Rubber Ducks

Dates: May 8-10

Current Record: 16-11, 2^nd place, 3.5 Games back of New Britain

Probables

All times are EST

Friday at 6:35 PM

Luis Cessa (2-1, 2.14 ERA, 1.93 FIP, 22.7 K%: 3.4 BB%, 0 HR/9)

@ Mike Clevinger (1-1, 1.95 ERA, 3.12 FIP, 23.5 K%: 7 BB%, 0.33 HR/9)

Saturday at 6:35 PM

Michael Fulmer (0-0, 5.40 ERA, 5.60 FIP, 18.2 K%: 9.1 BB%, 1.8 HR/9)

@ Ryan Merritt (1-2, 4.09 ERA, 4.01 FIP, 14.5 K%: 2.2 BB%, 0.82 HR/9)

Sunday at 2:05 PM

John Gant (1-2, 4.22 ERA, 4.15 FIP, 15.8 K%: 11.6 BB%, 0.42 HR/9)

@ Cody Anderson (2-2, 1.44 ERA, 2.92 FIP, 20.2 K%: 4 BB%, 0.36 HR/9)

Last series for B-Mets

Split four against Portland at home: L 4-1, W 3-1, L 6-3, W 5-4

Top prospects for the Cleveland Indians with Akron

Organizational rankings are from the 2015 Baseball America Prospect Handbook

Tyler Naquin, 24, LHH CF

Ranked #6, BA Grade: 50, Medium risk

            Naquin gets ranked so high in the system for having the chance to be a leadoff hitting center fielder at the highest level. He was having a breakout 2014 with Akron when he got hit by a pitch, which broke his hand and knocked him out for July and August. He doesn’t profile for much homerun power, but has a chance to be a high average hitter thanks to his quick hands and good speed. Per BA, some scouts question his ability to stick in CF, which may limit him to more of a 4^th outfielder’s role.

Erik Gonzalez, 23, RH SS

Ranked #8, BA Grade: 45, Low risk

            Gonzalez is ranked so high thanks to his nice glove and a big 2014 (slashed .309/.352/.428 split between A+ and AA). BA says he has ‘wiry strength,’ but notes that he does not try to hit for power. Although he already has 9 extra base hits in his first 25 games of 2015 (6 2B, 3B, 2 HR), Gonzalez only has a .254 OBP, thanks to his poor 2.5 BB%.

Cody Anderson, 24, RH SP

Ranked #10, BA Grade: 45, Medium risk

            Anderson has the foundation to be a solid pitcher at the next level, with good control of his arsenal, which includes a mid-90’s fastball that he combines with a BA-ranked below-average slider, curveball and changeup. But he made the switch to pitcher late in his career, so he may have more room to grow than most his age. He’s seen a huge boost in his return to the EL this year, with his K%: BB% improving from 14.9%: 8.3% in 2014 to 20.2%: 4% in 2015.

Mike Clevinger, 24, RH SP

Ranked #22, BA Grade: 50, High risk

            Cleveland acquired Clevinger in a trade last August and had him revert to his old mechanics (more over the top) for his final few appearances of the season, which helped him hit 97 MPH with his fastball. He’s off to a hot start for Akron in 2015, with 27 K: 8 BB in his 27.2 IP, and a 1.95 ERA.

Ryan Merritt, 23, LH SP

Ranked #27, BA Grade: 40, Medium risk

            Merritt is a classic crafty lefty with great command, but no true plus pitch. He’ll throw 88-92 MPH with his fastball, and his primary secondaries are a curveball and changeup, although he threw a slider more often before 2014. He’s allowed 3 ER in 3 starts, 0 ER in 1, and 6 ER in his most recent start, lasting 6+ IP in each start – basically what you’d hope for from a #5 starter.

Tony Wolters, 22, C/2B

Ranked #28, BA Grade: 45, High risk

            If nothing else, Wolters makes the list based on the unique bench depth he offers. He hasn’t hit much in the minors yet, especially so far in 2015, but, at minimum, he’ll have a spot on a major league bench every September moving forward.

Recent Injuries/Transactions

            With the Mets sending some players down the Las Vegas, the 51s cleared room by sending Jon Velasquez back to Binghamton, which led to the domino move of Jake Kuebler heading back to St. Lucie.

Storylines

            Starting pitching is the story of this series, as all 3 Akron starters scheduled were in the BA top-30, and Binghamton sends Cessa, Fulmer (both top-30), and Gant (not far behind). The B-Mets have been winning behind great starting pitching and timely hitting all year, which is exactly what they’ll need this weekend. I could see them jumping on Merritt, but Clevinger and Anderson should be tough matchups.

            After collecting an 0-fer in each of his first 3 games of the season, Brandon Nimmo has a hit in 19 of 23 games since, and has only failed to reach base once during that span. Gavin Cecchini has reached base in 17 of 19 games this season, with a .313/.370/.463 slash so far.

League Leaders

Top-15 EL, qualified only

R: Josh Rodriguez, t-8^th (16); Gavin Cecchini, t-10^th (15); Dustin Lawley, t-10^th (15), Jared King, t-12^th (14)

H: Brandon Nimmo, t-6^th (31); J-Rod, t-15^th (28)

2B: Lawley, t-3^rd (9); Nimmo, t-10^th (7); Boyd, t-10^th (7)

HR: J-Rod, 1^st (6); Lawley, t-10^th (3); Aderlin Rodriguez, t-10^th (3)

RBI: J-Rod, t-1^st (22); Jared King, t-10^th (16);

SB: Lawley, t-10^th (5)

AVG: J-Rod, 9^th (.333); Cecchini, 11^th (.313)

OBP: J-Rod, 4^th (.424)

ISO: J-Rod, 5^th (.262); Lawley, 10^th (.205)

K%: Cecchini, t-6^th (9.6%)

BB%: J-Rod, 12^th (13.1%)

wRC+: J-Rod, 3^rd (191)

IP: Gabriel Ynoa, t-15^th (29.1)

BB%: Matthew Koch, 6^th (3.8%)

New Crash Course Astronomy video is up: Jupiter! https://t.co/DiNwPT4jUX

— Phil Plait (@BadAstronomer) May 8, 2015