Mets Minors MiLB.tv Series Preview: Las Vegas 51s @ Salt Lake Bees

Dates: June 23-25, 2015

Current Record: 40-31, 4.5 Games ahead of El Paso

Probables

All times are EST

Tuesday at 9:05 PM

Steven Matz (7-4, 2.11 ERA, 3.47 FIP, 25.4 K%: 9.1 BB%, 0.53 HR/9)

@ Tyler DeLoach (1-3, 5.53 ERA, 3.63 FIP, 23.1 K%: 11.1 BB%, 0.33 HR/9)

Wednesday at 9:05 PM

Tyler Pill (2-4, 6.78 ERA, 5.68 FIP, 14.1 K%: 7.7 BB%, 1.60 HR/9)

@ Andrew Heaney (6-2, 4.71 ERA, 3.11 FIP, 20.9 K%: 7.1 BB%, 0.23 HR/9)

Thursday at 9:05 PM

Matthew Bowman (4-8, 6.19 ERA, 5.92 FIP, 9.9 K%: 7.7 BB%, 1.45 HR/9)

@ Alex Sanabia (1-7, 5.49 ERA, 4.69 FIP, 12.4 K%: 6.2 BB%, 0.66 HR/9)

Last series for Las Vegas 51s

Split 4 in Fresno: L 11-4, W 11-5, L 7-2, W 4-2

Top prospects for opposing teams

Organizational rankings are from the 2015 Baseball America Prospect Handbook

Andrew Heaney, LH SP, 24

Ranked #1, BA Grade 55: Low risk

Making his first start against Las Vegas, we nearly got a matchup of young lefty aces. BA has him sitting in the low 90’s at his best, with plus slider and plus changeup potential. He’s been experiencing the ‘PCL effect’ so far.

Alex Yarbrough, SH 2B, 23

Ranked #8, BA Grade: 45, Medium risk

Underwhelming season so far, hitting just .235/.270/.316 with 72 strikeouts in 66 games.

Nick Tropeano, RH SP, 24

Ranked #9, BA Grade: 45, Medium risk

PCL ERA is inflated by an unusually low LOB%. He’s made 5 major league starts over the past 2 seasons.

Drew Rucinski, RH SP, 26

Ranked #18, BA Grade: 45, High risk

2.45 ERA over his last 4 starts (22 IP) has lowered his season rate to 5.76 in 54.2 IP.

Jeff Bandy, RHH C, 25

Ranked #21, BA Grade: 40, Medium risk

Just 7 for his last 38 (including 0-8 last week against Las Vegas), to lower his slash to .270/.313/.448 in 46 games.

Kaleb Cowart, SH 3B, 23

Ranked #24, BA Grade: 45, High risk

Went 5-11 against Las Vegas last week, but has a .753 OPS overall, with 17 doubles, 6 triples, and 3 homeruns.

Recent Injuries/Transactions

            The big news is that Dillon Gee has been outrighted to the 51s. We’ll see if he gets moved into the rotation during this series, or just slots in for Rainy Lara this weekend. Vic Black was activated over this past weekend, and Jon Velasquez was sent back to Binghamton to make room for him on the roster. Jeff Walters was activated and sent to the GCL Mets to begin his comeback from TJS. Duane Below was activated off of the DL and Jayce Boyd was moved to the temporary inactive list prior to game one. There should be more moves within the system Thursday, when the second half begins for St. Lucie and Savannah, so things should clear up then.

League Leaders

Top-20 PCL, qualified only

R: Matt Reynolds, 2^nd (48); Alex Castellanos, t-7^th (44)

H: Reynolds, t-5^th (75)

2B: Castellanos, t-1^st (22); Reynolds, t-3^rd (21)

HR: Travis Taijeron, t-6^th (12); Castellanos, t-6^th (12)

RBI: Reynolds, 10^th (42); Castellanos, 11^th (41)

SB: Wilfredo Tovar, t-2^nd (19)

OBP: Taijeron, 7^th (.404)

ISO: Castellanos, 1^st (.298); Taijeron, 5^th (.250)

BB%: Taijeron, 9^th (13%)

K%: Tovar, 8^th (11.3%)

wRC+: Taijeron, 3^rd (153)

IP: Steven Matz, 2^nd (85.1)

W: Matz, t-1^st (7)

Saves: Chase Bradford, t-10^th (6)

ERA: Matz, 1^st (2.11)

FIP: Matz, 6^th (3.47)

K%: Matz, 1^st (25.4%)

AVG: Matz, 3^rd (.209)

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