Since the trade deadline, the Binghamton Rumble Ponies went 26-13, pushing themselves past the Portland Sea Dogs and into second place in the division. With the Somerset Patriots winning the division in the first and second half, the Rumble Ponies advanced to the Eastern League playoffs, where they will play the Patriots, the Yankees’ Double-A affiliate.

During the season, the Rumble Ponies were 8-13 against the Patriots. After the trade deadline, the Rumble Ponies were 3-3 against them. All six of those games were played at TD Bank Park in Somerset, New Jersey. That is where part of the best-of-three playoff series will take place.

Luisangel Acuña, Photo by Bronson Harris of Binghamton Rumble Ponies

MLB Pipeline Top 100 Prospects

Rumble Ponies

38. Luisangel Acuña
52. Drew Gilbert
78. Jett Williams
89. Kevin Parada

Patriots

73. Spencer Jones
96. Chase Hampton
100. Drew Thorpe

Notably, this will be the first series between these two teams where Jasson Domínguez will not play for the Patriots. In the August series between these two teams, Domínguez was 7-for-26 with two doubles, two RBI, and three stolen bases. Shortly thereafter, he was promoted to Triple-A and then the majors.

While the Patriots have lost their best player, the Rumble Ponies roster has been fortified. Acuña came to the New York Mets organization in the Max Scherzer trade. Gilbert was part of the Justin Verlander trade. After the Brooklyn Cyclones were eliminated from playoff contention, Williams and Parada were promoted to Double-A.

Gilbert in particular has been hot at the plate. Since joining the Mets organization, he has a .984 OPS. Acuña got off to a slow start at the plate, but he has continued stealing bases. He has 15 with Rumble Ponies to raise his season total to 57.

Top 30 Prospects

Rumble Ponies (per MMN)

1. Luisangel Acuña
2. Drew Gilbert
3. Kevin Parada
4. Jett Williams
9. Blade Tidwell
12. Christian Scott
14. Dominic Hamel
19. Tyler Stuart
26. Matt Rudick
29. Jeremiah Jackson

Stuart and Rudick are currently on the injured list.

Patriots (per MLB Pipeline)

1. Spencer Jones
4. Chase Hampton
5. Drew Thorpe
9. Trey Sweeney
12. Richard Fitts
17. Tyler Hardman
18. Zach Messinger
23. Ben Rice
24. Agustin Ramirez
25. Matt Sauer
26. Yoendrys Gómez
29. Danny Watson
30. Elijah Dunham

Right off the bat, you can see this series has the best both organizations has to offer. That is a large reason why the Patriots were able to secure the division title in the first and second halves of the season. However, with the trade deadline and recent promotions, you can now argue the Rumble Ponies roster now has the higher caliber prospects.

Jackson came to the Mets from the Los Angeles Angels in the Dominic Leone trade. He got off to a hot start with the Rumble Ponies and would homer in his first game against the Patriots. Overall, since joining the Mets organization, he has a 118 wRC+ while playing second, third, short, left, and right.

While Jackson and the other top prospects were a boost at the trade deadline, Rudick has arguably been the top player on the Rumble Ponies roster all season. He leads all players on the roster with over 40 games played with a .958 OPS. Another potent bat of note is JT Schwartz (.818 OPS), who narrowly missed our top 30.

As we see the real strength of this team may be its starting pitching with Tidwell (4.72 ERA), Scott (2.47 ERA), Hamel (3.85 ERA), and Stuart (3.60 ERA). Scott, the Mets minor league ERA leader, is getting the ball in game one of the series.

Christian Scott, Photo by Bronson Harris of the Binghamton Rumble Ponies

Tuesday, September 19, 2023 – Game 1, 6:35 P.M. – @ Binghamton

RHP Christian Scott (5-4, 2.47 ERA) vs. RHP Blane Abeyta (8-8, 5.67 ERA)

Abeyta, 25, made three starts against the Rumble Ponies in May. In the first start, he took a no decision with the Rumble Ponies knocking him out in the second inning after scoring three earned on two hits and two walks. In the second game, Abeyta picked up the win after allowing two earned over six innings.

His third start was August 13 where he picked up the win after allowing just one hit over six scoreless innings. He would strike out seven batters on the day with Jackson having a golden sombrero on the day.

Scott, 24, made only one start against the Patriots. On August 12, he picked up the win after allowing one hit over 6 1/3 scoreless innings while striking out five and walking none. The only hit allowed was a Rice double to start the game. The Patriots would not get another base runner after that hit. Scott has been the best pitcher in the minor leagues this year.

Thursday, September 21, 2023 – Game 2, 6:35 P.M. – @ Somerset

RHP Dominic Hamel (8-6, 3.85 ERA) vs. RHP Richard Fitts (11-5, 3.48 ERA)

Fitts, 23, is the Yankees top pitching prospect in Double-A. He is 2-2 in four starts against the Rumble Ponies allowing 13 runs over 22 2/3 innings. However, he was better in each start against the Rumble Ponies.

His most impressive start against them was after the trade deadline. He threw six shutout innings against the Rumble Ponies picking up the win. He cooled off the red hot Rumble Ponies bats, who had scored 13 runs over the two previous games against the Patriots.

Hamel, 24, made five starts against the Patriots, going 2-3. Notably, he made two starts against the Patriots in their August series. Hamel was impressive in the first start picking up the win after allowing four earned over six innings. However, he would struggle in his next start getting knocked out in the fourth and picking up the loss.

Friday, September 22, 2023 – Game 3, 6:35 P.M. (if necessary) – @ Somerset

RHP Blade Tidwell (11-6, 3.57 ERA) vs. RHP Yoendrys Gomez (0-3, 3.58 ERA)

If this goes to a Game 3, Gomez, 23, will take the ball for the Patriots. This would be his third start against the Rumble Ponies. He was 0-1 and did not pitch five innings in either start (he only pitched at least five innings once all season). Of note, he did not face any of the Mets Top 100 prospects currently on the roster.

Tidwell, 22, faced the Patriots once, and that was in his second start in Double-A. He dominated the Patriots limiting them to two runs over 7 2/3 while striking out seven batters.

PREDICTION

The Rumble Ponies have the edge in the starting pitching. With the new prospects acquired at the trade deadline plus the recent promotions, they also have a deeper lineup at the moment. This series will probably go three games with Tidwell pitching the Rumble Ponies to the Easter League Finals.