Jacob Reimer. Photo by Binghamton Rumble Ponies

Triple-A

The Syracuse Mets finished out their season with a series win over the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. The Mets won four of six games, including a 9-0 victory in the final game of the year. Syracuse missed out on the postseason despite their 46-29 second-half record. They finished 77-73 overall.

Carson Benge had an excellent final week of the season, going 7-for-21 with a triple, two home runs, four walks, and a stolen base. Benge recorded five RBIs and three runs scored. Benge’s strong week to finish the season was encouraging, as he ends the year with just a .583 OPS in 24 Triple-A games. He was, however, named the Mets’ minor league player of the year by the organization.

Jett Williams also finished the season strong, going 7-for-26 with two doubles, a triple, two home runs, and a walk. Williams recorded four RBIs and five runs. Williams had a bit more success than Benge at the Triple-A level, finishing with a .718 OPS in 34 games.

Luke Ritter also stood out at the plate, going 7-for-16 with two home runs, four RBIs, and four runs scored. Ritter had a down year in Triple-A, recording a surprising .697 OPS with just 11 home runs.

Jonathan Pintaro made two excellent starts for Syracuse in their final series. He combined to throw nine innings, allowing just one run on five hits and three walks. Pintaro also struck out 12. He ultimately struggled in 17 appearances (five starts) with Syracuse to the tune of a 5.22 ERA.

Justin Hagenman finished the season on a strong note, recording five scoreless innings (one unearned run allowed) in his last start. He allowed six hits and three walks while striking out four, finishing his year with a 5.58 ERA in Syracuse.

Luis Moreno also had a shutdown start, tossing 4 1/3 scoreless innings on two hits, three walks, and three strikeouts. Moreno recorded a 6.58 ERA in 10 appearances (one start) in Syracuse.

Jett Williams. Photo by Kylie Richelle

Double-A

With the Rumble Ponies having played three postseason games to this point, here are the players who have stood out most:

• SS William Lugo: .444/.545/.667/1.212, 2 2B, 2 BB, 4 R
• 2B Wyatt Young: .500/.636/.500/1.136, 3 BB, 2 RBI, 1 SB
• RHP Jack Wenninger: 6 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, 9 K

They play Erie again Tuesday night at 6:35 p.m. (Will Watson starting), and if they win, play Wednesday.

Jack Wenninger. Photo by Kylie Richelle

High-A

The Brooklyn Cyclones won the South Atlantic League title with a 2-1 victory last Tuesday. The Cyclones went 4-0 in the postseason, sweeping the Greensboro Grasshoppers in the division round and the Hub City Spartanburgers in the championship round.

In the championship-clinching game, the Cyclones took a 2-0 lead in the third and never gave the lead up. Here is who stepped up in that game:

• SS Marco Vargas: 1-for-3, BB, RBI, R, K
• DH Matt Rudick: 1-for-4, RBI, K
• C Ronald Hernandez: 2-for-3, BB, K
• LF John Bay: 1-for-4, 3B, R, K
• RHP Franklin Gomez: 4 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 5 K
• RHP Hoss Brewer: 1 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K, S

Marco Vargas. Photo by Ed Delany, MMO

Organizational Leaders

Batting

AVG – A.J. Ewing (STL/BRK/BNG) – .315

OPS – Carson Benge (BRK/BNG/SYR) – .857

HR – Ryan Clifford (BNG/SYR) – 29

SB – A.J. Ewing (STL/BRK/BNG) – 70

Pitching

ERA – Jonah Tong (BNG/SYR) – 1.43

SO – Jonah Tong (BNG/SYR) – 179

WHIP – Zach Thornton (BRK/BNG) – 0.812

Players of the Week

Offense – Carson Benge, OF Syracuse

Carson Benge had been the Mets’ best minor league bat all year until his promotion to Syracuse. His bat cooled off, but he flew through the system and finished his last week in Syracuse on a high note. Whether or not he starts the year in the big leagues in 2026, he’s a prime candidate to help that squad out at some point next year.

Pitching – Jack Wenninger, P Binghamton

Jack Wenninger pitched arguably his best game of the year in the game that sent the Rumble Ponies to their league championship. He allowed just two baserunners and struck out nine over six dominant innings. He’s been phenomenal all year and he now owns a 2.80 ERA in 27 starts, including his latest gem in the postseason.

Upcoming Schedule – September 23-24

• Double-A Binghamton: @ Erie – Championship Series, Best of Three. Down 1-0

The post Minors Weekly Report: Binghamton on Brink of Elimination appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Will Watson. Photo by Sam Johnston/Brooklyn Cyclones

Triple-A

The Syracuse Mets split their six-game set against the Worcester Red Sox last week. It was a pretty low-scoring series, with the Mets being outscored 25-19. Syracuse is now 42-27 in the second half and 73-71 overall with one series left in the regular season. They’d need to pick up three games on the Scranton/Wilkes Barre RailRiders in the next week to get into the Triple-A playoffs. If they do, all four of the Mets’ top affiliates will have made the playoffs in their respective leagues.

Jett Williams showed off his power and his elite eye in the Mets’ latest series. He went just 4-for-22, but two of his hits left the yard, and he also recorded four walks. Williams has struggled since being promoted to Syracuse, owning just a .665 OPS.

Ryan Clifford also hit a home run, extending his Mets organizational lead. He went 3-for-18 and also added a double, while walking six times and striking out just five times. Clifford now owns a .762 OPS since joining Syracuse.

Jared Young continued his excellent year for the Triple-A squad. In the latest series, he went 4-for-14 with a home run, three walks, and two stolen bases. In 70 games, he owns a fabulous .961 OPS.

In his first start since being sent down to Triple-A to figure things out, Kodai Senga looked comfortable with a six-inning, one-run start. Senga allowed just three hits and no walks while striking out eight. He figures to make at least one more start in Syracuse before re-joining the major league team.

Other notable pitching performances in this series included Oliver Ortega (4 IP, 0 ER, 3 K), Alex Carrillo (3.1 IP, 0 ER, 5 K), and Austin Warren (3 IP, 0 ER, 4 K).

Jett Williams. Photo by Kylie Richelle

Double-A

The Binghamton Rumble Ponies finished up their regular season by winning five of six games against the Portland Sea Dogs. Their only loss was an 8-7 defeat. Binghamton ends the regular season with a 45-24 second-half record and a 90-46 overall record. They face the Somerset Patriots in a best-of-three division series beginning Tuesday.

Despite the big series win, the offensive results were not there. Omar De Los Santos had the best series for a position player on the team, going 6-for-20 with a triple, a home run, a walk, and three stolen bases. He drove in four runs and scored four runs, while improving his OPS with Binghamton to .620.

Nick Morabito looked solid, going 5-for-19 with five walks and four stolen bases. He drove in four runs and scored a run of his own. His OPS now sits at .733.

While the offense wasn’t very prominent for Binghamton, the pitching was. Will Watson was the headliner, as he shone in two brilliant outings (one start). Watson combined to throw 9 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and two walks while striking out 14 batters. Watson has now made four appearances with Binghamton and owns a 3.44 ERA.

Jack Wenninger was also fantastic, going eight innings in his start and allowing three runs (one earned) on seven hits, no walks, and two strikeouts. Wenninger owns a 2.92 ERA through 26 starts this year.

Jonathan Santucci also looked great once again, as he tossed five shutout innings. He allowed just two hits and no walks while striking out seven. Santucci owns a 2.52 ERA in 10 starts with the Rumble Ponies.

Jack Wenninger. Photo by Kylie Richelle

High-A

Over the past three postseason games, here are the players who have stood out for the Brooklyn Cyclones:

• Yonatan Henriquez: 7-for-16, HR, 6 RBI, 4 R
• Marco Vargas: 6-for-13 (including a 5-for-5 game), 2 BB, 4 R
• Joel Díaz: 6 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 2 K

Low-A

The St. Lucie Mets’ season finished this past week with a loss to the Daytona Tortugas in the Division Series. The Mets captured the first game 4-2 and needed just one more win, but the Tortugas won each of the next two games to move on.

Here are the players who stood out in the Mets’ postseason series:

• Antonio Jimenez: 3-for-9, 2B, 4 BB, 2 RBI
• Jose Chirinos: 5 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 4 K
• Omar Victorino: 4 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 4 K

Organizational Leaders

Batting

AVG – A.J. Ewing (STL/BRK/BNG) – .315

OPS – Carson Benge (BRK/BNG/SYR) – .840

HR – Ryan Clifford (BNG/SYR) – 28

SB – A.J. Ewing (STL/BRK/BNG) – 70

Pitching

ERA – Jonah Tong (BNG/SYR) – 1.43

SO – Jonah Tong (BNG/SYR) – 179

WHIP – Zach Thornton (BRK/BNG) – 0.812

Players of the Week

Offense – Yonatan Henriquez, UTIL Brooklyn

Yonatan Henriquez has had one of the more drastic turnarounds within a season we’ve seen in some time. Through July 4, having played 62 games, he had a measly .623 OPS, all with Low-A St. Lucie. From July 5 on, however, he’s played in 72 games (the last few weeks in High-A) and has recorded an .863 OPS. In the last three postseason games, he has six RBIs and a 1.125 OPS, propelling Brooklyn to within one win of a league championship.

Pitching – Will Watson, P Binghamton

Will Watson has been overshadowed by so many of the Mets’ other highly touted pitching prospects, but he has been among the best of the bunch. Having started the year in Low-A, he is now in Double-A and still thriving. He’s made 28 appearances (23 starts) over the course of the year and has a 2.60 ERA. His best stretch was with High-A Brooklyn, where he had a 1.70 ERA in 14 appearances.

Upcoming Schedule – September 16-21

• Triple-A Syracuse: @ Lehigh Valley
• Double-A Binghamton: @/vs. Somerset – Division Series, Best of Three
• High-A Brooklyn: @ Hub City – Championship Series, Best of Three. Currently up 1-0

The post Minors Weekly Report: Cyclones One Win Away from Championship Title appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Jett Williams, Photo by Bronson Harris of the Binghamton Rumble Ponies

Triple-A

The Syracuse Mets had a forgettable series against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, dropping all six games last week. All six losses came by two or more runs, with three of the losses coming by more than four runs. The Mets have now lost eight straight games and are 29-40.

Drew Gilbert was one of the lone positives from a position player standpoint. The outfielder went 5-for-20 with two doubles and a home run. He also led the team with five RBIs, four walks, and was the only player to steal a base. It was a great week despite an underwhelming season for Gilbert, who owns a .685 OPS with the Triple-A club.

Yonny Hernández also shined, going 7-for-15 with a double, two walks, and four runs, which led the team. Hernández has just a .600 OPS on the year between Binghamton and Syracuse, but his Triple-A OPS sits at .713.

Nolan McLean delivered a quality start in his lone start of the series, allowing three runs (two earned) in six innings. He allowed four hits, three walks, and struck out three batters. McLean continues to impress as he now owns a 2.56 ERA in seven games with Syracuse.

Frankie Montas had a brutal rehab start, allowing eight runs in 1 2/3 innings, allowing seven hits, a walk, a hit batsman, and recording just one strikeout. Montas now owns a 13.17 ERA in five total rehab starts between two affiliates as he looks to find his footing before joining the major league club.

Out of the bullpen, Dedniel Núñez had a great week. In three appearances, including two in which he served as an opener, Núñez tossed three hitless innings, allowing just one walk and striking out three. The righty owns a 3.79 ERA in 19 games with Syracuse this year.

Double-A

The Binghamton Rumble Ponies won their series against the Richmond Flying Squirrels, winning four games and losing one. The final game of the series was suspended in extra innings due to inclement weather and will not be completed. The Rumble Ponies are now 42-19 on the year and have clinched an Eastern League Northeast first-half championship.

In addition to what Jett Williams provided, Binghamton also received phenomenal performances from two of their other notable position players: Ryan Clifford and Kevin Parada.

Clifford went 9-for-24 with three doubles, two home runs, three walks, and a stolen base. The slugger has increased his OPS on the year to .837.

Parada continues to be on a tear, as he went 7-for-16 with three doubles and two home runs. The former first-round pick, who many consider a non-prospect at this point, suddenly has his OPS up to .713. His OPS in his last 22 games is 1.080.

Jonah Tong made two great starts this past week, striking out 13 and allowing just two earned runs over 10 1/3 innings. His ERA is now down to 1.97, and he is closing in on 100 punchouts on the season with 96 in just 59 1/3 innings.

Jonathan Pintaro and Jack Wenninger also shone in their starts. Pintaro tossed 4 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing a hit, two walks and a hit batsman while striking out three. Wenninger tossed four scoreless innings, allowing four hits and a walk while striking out five. Pintaro lowered his ERA to 3.26 through 10 starts, and Wenninger saw his ERA drop to 2.93 through 12 starts.

High-A

Like the Rumble Ponies, the Brooklyn Cyclones continue to roll. They defeated the Asheville Tourists four games to two in their latest series. The Cyclones are now 43-20 on the year, and they hold a half-game lead in the South Atlantic League North division.

Carson Benge continues to play well as he went 8-for-23 with seven RBIs against Asheville, leading Brooklyn in hits and runs driven in for the series. Of his eight hits, four were doubles, and he also added a stolen base. Benge has been fantastic this year, holding onto a .906 OPS.

A.J. Ewing also had a strong week despite not hitting much. He went just 3-for-15, but he walked a whopping 11 times while striking out just six times. He also added four stolen bases and scored seven runs. No one else on the team had more than three runs scored. Ewing’s full-season OPS between two affiliates lowered to .926, but he raised his stolen base total to 45, being caught just five times.

Marco Vargas rebounded this week after coming into the series against Asheville with a .582 OPS in 30 games since being promoted to Brooklyn. Vargas went 6-for-19 with a double, four walks, and three stolen bases. Vargas has just a .615 OPS in Brooklyn and a .732 OPS overall, but his OPS over his last seven games is .881.

Brendan Girton delivered a brilliant performance in his start for the Cyclones, tossing five perfect innings and striking out six. Girton has had a fantastic season, owning a 2.91 ERA in 12 games. Unsurprisingly, Girton was named South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week.

Will Watson (4 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 8 K) and R.J. Gordon (4 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 7 K) had nearly identical outings, though Gordon’s performance came out of the bullpen. Regardless, both pitched wonderfully and added onto their strong seasons as well. Watson lowered his ERA between St. Lucie and Brooklyn to 3.56 through 12 appearances, while Gordon lowered his ERA with Brooklyn to 2.73 through 12 appearances.

In more rehab news, Sean Manaea made a pair of rehab starts for the Cyclones. His first start of the week was encouraging as he struck out four and didn’t allow a run in 2 2/3 innings, but his last start was bumpier, allowing four runs in 2 1/3 innings.

Low-A

The St. Lucie Mets won four of their six games against the Daytona Tortugas, moving to 34-28 on the year and clinching the Florida State League East first-half championship.

Colin Houck, like Kevin Parada, is having a bit of a resurgence after initially struggling as a former first-round pick. Houck went 8-for-26 during the week with a double, a triple, two home runs, three walks, and two stolen bases. His OPS on the season is now .804.

Trey Snyder and Trace Willhoite also had similarly great weeks. Snyder went 8-for-21 with two doubles, a triple, a home run, four walks, and three stolen bases. Meanwhile, Willhoite went 8-for-23 with a double, a home run, and two walks while leading the team with six RBIs. Snyder has seen his OPS creep up to .714 while Willhoite has impressed all year with an .863 OPS.

Wellington Aracena had a fantastic week, making two appearances, including one start. In total, he allowed two runs (one earned) in 9 1/3 innings while striking out seven. The 20-year-old has a 3.21 ERA in 12 games with St. Lucie this season.

Channing Austin also made a good start, throwing four scoreless innings with four strikeouts. He hasn’t had as much success, as he owns a 4.10 ERA through 12 appearances.

FCL Mets

The FCL Mets went 1-4 in their five games this past week, dropping to 10-17 through 27 games this season. They remain in last place in the Florida Complex League East division.

Offense was hard to come by in these five games, but Bohan Adderley had a solid week, going 4-for-16 with a home run, four RBIs, and two stolen bases. Adderley has just a .519 OPS this season.

On the mound, Jose Guevara looked exceptional, tossing four scoreless innings with six strikeouts. Still, he owns a 6.63 ERA through six appearances. Meanwhile, Daviel Hurtado tossed three scoreless innings with five strikeouts to lower his ERA through five games to 0.47. His strong start to the year earned him a promotion to the St. Lucie Mets.

DSL Mets

The DSL Mets Orange had a great week, winning all four games they played in to improve to 7-3. The DSL Mets Blue split their four games, going 2-2 to move to 2-8. Both teams also had their games on Monday suspended due to weather.

Elian Peña finally got on the board with his first hit this season after a long hitless stretch to begin his pro career, and he also added his first professional home run in Monday’s suspended game. That game will be completed later in the season.

Jamdrick Cornelia had a great couple of outings on the mound for DSL Mets Orange, striking out six over four scoreless innings. Darling Perez also shined for DSL Mets Blue, striking out seven over three scoreless innings.

Organizational Leaders

Batting

AVG – A.J. Ewing (STL/BRK) – .336

OPS – Jett Williams (BNG)/A.J. Ewing (STL/BRK) – .926

HR – Jon Singleton (SYR)/Ryan Clifford (BNG) – 12

SB – A.J. Ewing (STL/BRK) – 45

Pitching

ERA – Zach Thornton (BRK/BNG) – 1.83

SO – Jonah Tong (BNG) – 96

WHIP – Zach Thornton (BRK/BNG) – 0.734

Players of the Week

Offense – Jett Williams, SS/2B/CF Binghamton

Jett Williams is officially back. After battling injuries and playing in just 33 games across three levels last season with a measly .656 OPS, he’s tied with A.J. Ewing for the highest OPS in the organization at .926 through 55 games with Binghamton this year. He’s been on a tear lately, recording a .421/.522/.868/1.390 slash in his last 10 games. Williams, still just 21 years old, has solidified his place as one of the top position player prospects in the Mets’ system.

Pitching – Brendan Girton, P Brooklyn

Girton was selected in the 10th round of the 2024 draft by the Mets, and he’s surpassed all expectations up to this point. His latest outing was his best one yet, as he didn’t allow a single baserunner over five innings of work. With an ERA now under 3.00, Girton will hope to continue to make a name for himself in the Mets’ system.

Upcoming Schedule – June 17-22

• Triple-A Syracuse: vs. Jacksonville
• Double-A Binghamton: @ Harrisburg
• High-A Brooklyn: @ Aberdeen
• Low-A St. Lucie: vs. Palm Beach

The post Minors Weekly Report: Jett Williams Goes on Tear appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

When Jacob deGrom departed for Texas, it was hard to envision the Mets would be able to fill a void that large at the top of their rotation.

However, just two days later, they signed Justin Verlander, and the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner has looked the part of the co-ace who can help this team win their first World Series in 37 years.

Verlander took the mound for his third start of the spring on Wednesday, and he put together his most dominant start yet. He threw five scoreless innings against the Cardinals, allowing just one hit while striking out eight. In just 71 pitches, Verlander induced 12 swings and misses, including seven on his fastball.

After a Cy Young 2022 campaign, Verlander has showed no signs of slowing down to this point. In 11 1/3 innings this spring, Verlander has allowed just six hits and two runs with 16 strikeouts. He has also not allowed a single walk this spring.

With Verlander and Max Scherzer at the top of the rotation, the Mets appear to be just as dangerous as they were in 2022 when they won 101 games. Verlander was not shy when asked about winning a championship in New York following his outing.

“I’m not afraid to talk about winning a championship,” Verlander said. “I think establishing a culture where you expect to win a championship is important. You should be able to talk about it. That’s what we’re all here for. You don’t shy away from it.”

Justin Verlander on winning a championship with the Mets:

"For this organization particularly that has been close a couple of times recently and hasn't quite gotten over the hump in awhile, that has a wonderful fan base, those are the stories that live forever."

— Mike Mayer (@mikemayer22) March 15, 2023

The future Hall-of-Famer is no stranger to the World Series. In his rookie year in 2006, his Detroit Tigers made it to the World Series only to fall short to the Cardinals team that broke Mets fans’ hearts just prior. Six years later, Verlander and the Tigers made it back. Verlander had just won the Cy Young and MVP the year prior, and he ended up just four points behind David Price in the voting to win a second consecutive Cy Young. Despite being at the top of his game, the Tigers were swept by the San Francisco Giants.

It wasn’t until 2017 that Verlander made it back to the World Series, this time as a member of the Houston Astros. In his time in Houston, the Astros were World Series regulars. They won the American League pennant in 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2022, and won it all in 2017 and 2022.

Verlander is now a two-time World Series champion, and while another championship will look great on his resume, he isn’t one of those veteran players who is searching for his elusive first championship. Despite having two rings, he knows winning in New York is a different animal.

“I was talking to David Robertson about the Yankees’ World Series win, what the parade was like,” Verlander said. “Obviously in that city, it’s iconic.”

At age 40, Verlander’s time with the Mets most likely won’t be a very long-term partnership as Father Time is still undefeated. Even if his time in New York is just the two years he is currently signed for, he will go down in Mets history if he helps bring a World Series title back to Queens.

The post Justin Verlander Eying Championship In Queens appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Both Championship Series are in action on Saturday night and will be again on Sunday giving baseball fans a full weekend of games.

Astros (2-0 lead) vs. Yankees 5:07 p.m. ET, TBS – Game 3

The Astros took a commanding 2-0 lead with a 3-2 win over the Yankees in Game 2 on Thursday night. Alex Bregman hit a three-run shot and Framber Valdez didn’t allow an earned run over seven fantastic innings.

Right-hander Cristian Javier (0-0, 6.75 ERA) gets the start on Saturday for the Astros. The 25-year-old had a great 2022 regular season with a 2.54 ERA and 0.95 WHIP in 148 2/3 innings, but has made only one relief appearance of 1 1/3 innings this postseason. Javier has a 3.38 ERA in 12 postseason appearances, all of those out of the bullpen.

Yankees’ ace Gerrit Cole (2-0, 2.03 ERA) gets the ball tonight in a very important Game 3 for New York. Cole has made two good starts for the Yankees this postseason already with only two runs allowed combined in 13 1/3 innings. He’s given up two walks and struck out 16 in that span.

Padres vs Phillies (2-1 lead), 7:45 p.m. ET, Fox Sports – Game 4

Phillies’ slugger Kyle Schwarber gave them an early 1-0 lead with a first-inning solo homer on Friday and they would not relinquish that lead in their 4-2 win. Ranger Suarez allowed one earned run in five innings and then the Philly bullpen combined to throw four scoreless innings.

Right-hander Mike Clevinger (0-1, 13.50 ERA) will get the ball on Friday night for the Padres as they hope to even the series. The 32-year-old was roughed up for four earned runs in 2 2/3 innings by the Dodgers in his only start this postseason. Clevinger has a 5.74 ERA in nine career playoff games.

Young lefty Bailey Falter will make his postseason debut on Saturday night. The 25-year-old had a 3.86 ERA in 20 regular season appearances that included 16 starts for the Phillies in 2022. Falter has allowed three runs in only 1 2/3 innings in two relief appearances against the Padres.

The post Championship Series Game Thread: Phillies, Astros Hold Leads appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Tuesday was a bizarre today that included a game from the American League Division Series and a game from the National League Championship Series.

The New York Yankees bested the Cleveland Guardians with a 5-1 win to move on to the AL Championship Series. The Yankees two big-time sluggers, Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge, both homered early in the game to support starter Nester Cortes. Lefty reliever Wandy Peralta closed the game out and pitched in every game of the series.

Phillies vs. Padres (1-0 lead), 4:35 p.m. ET, Fox Sports – Game 2

The Phillies took Game 1 of this series on Tuesday by a 2-0 score when Kyle Schwarber hit a 488-foot home run, Bryce Harper contributed a solo homer, and former Met Zack Wheeler tossed seven innings of shutout ball.

Right-hander Aaron Nola (2-0, 0.00 ERA) takes the mound on Wednesday for the Phillies coming off a scoreless start in each of the first two rounds of the playoffs.

Lefty Blake Snell (1-0, 3.12) will start for San Diego. After struggling in his first postseason start vs the Mets this year, Snell tossed 5 1/3 innings of one-run ball in a win over the Dodgers in the second round.

Yankees vs Astros, 7:37 p.m. ET, TBS – Game 1

After narrowly beating the Guardians, the Yankees will travel to Texas to face off against the Astros on Wednesday night.

Right-hander Jameson Taillon (0-1, inf ERA) will be making his first postseason start and just his second playoff appearance. The 30-year-old allowed two runs without getting an out in his playoff debut last week vs the Guardians.

Veteran Justin Verlander (0-0, 13.50 ERA) gets the nod for the Astros. The right-hander got knocked around by the Mariners for six runs in four innings in the previous round. The 39-year-old will be making his 32nd playoff start

The post Championship Series Game Thread appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

It’s playoff season in the minors, and several Mets affiliates are involved. Let’s get into it.

Triple-A Syracuse

Syracuse split a six-game set with the Buffalo Bisons. The Triple-A Mets are now 59-82.

Jake Mangum led Syracuse with 11 hits, including two doubles and a home run in 21 at-bats. The switch-hitting outfielder is slashing .382/.426/.564 with two home runs and five stolen bases through 55 at-bats in September.

Did we mention Mangum can also mash?

He had three hits for the @SyracuseMets yesterday, including this go-ahead homer. pic.twitter.com/4AH1Q8CDgQ

— Mets Player Development (@MetsPlayerDev) September 19, 2022

Dominic Smith had a big series as well going 10-for-23 with two doubles and three home runs. Smith now has five home runs in his last 31 at-bats. His OPS is up to .842 through 195 at-bats in Triple-A.

Francisco Álvarez also had seven hits with a pair of home runs in 20 at-bats in his first full series since an ankle injury sidelined him in late August.

Francisco Álvarez got ALL of this one 😱 pic.twitter.com/5IkSGXtdOz

— Mets Player Development (@MetsPlayerDev) September 18, 2022

Jose Butto delivered another solid performance on the mound, allowing just a run on three hits and three walks while striking out three in five innings. Butto lowered his ERA to 2.93 with a WHIP of 1.12 through six starts in Syracuse.

Double-A Binghamton

The Rumble Ponies dropped four of six to the Hartford Yard Goats to finish the second half of their season with a 25-42 record.

Ronny Mauricio capped his season on a high note going 9-for-24 with a double, triple, home run, and two stolen bases. The 21-year-old shortstop finishes his first full season in Double-A with a .259/.296/.472 line, 20 stolen bases (in 31 attempts), and 26 home runs in 509 at-bats.

5️⃣-RBI night!

Ronny Mauricio slugged a three-run homer as part of a five RBI night. pic.twitter.com/DeuCQtLpn4

— Mets Player Development (@MetsPlayerDev) September 17, 2022

Carlos Cortes and Hayden Senger would each homer in the series as well.

On the pitching front, Tony Dibrell turned in his best start of the season, earning a win with six shutout innings. Dibrell allowed just one hit, walked four, and struck out six. The 26-year-old righthander went 2-2 with a 4.55 ERA in 29.2 innings with Binghamton this season.

Jose Chacin allowed two runs on three hits and four walks through four innings, though he did record seven strikeouts. Chacin struggled with Binghamton after he was dominant to start the year in Brooklyn, but he finished the season on a positive note allowing two or fewer runs while striking out seven in four of his last seven starts.

High-A Brooklyn

The Cyclones’ season came to an end as they fell to Aberdeen IronBirds in the South Atlantic League semi-finals.

Brooklyn took the opener of the series 8-1 with home runs from Jose Peroza, Joe Suozzi, and Matt Rudick. Luis Moreno earned the win, allowing a run on five hits while striking out seven in six innings.

Peroza power on full display 💪

Jose tallied three hits last night, including a two-run homer. pic.twitter.com/xQwxyDaqe4

— Mets Player Development (@MetsPlayerDev) September 14, 2022

However, the offense would struggle in Game 2 as the Cyclones scored just one run on a William Lugo home run. Dominic Hamel struggled, allowing five runs in four innings, in a 6-1 loss.

In the rubber game, Brooklyn overcame an early deficit with home runs from Peroza and Stanley Consuegra, but Aberdeen was able to hang on for a 5-4 series-clinching win.

Low-A St. Lucie

St. Lucie swept a two-game series from the Palm Beach Cardinals to reach the FSL Championship for the first time since 2006.

The Mets took Game 1 6-1 on the back of 4 2/3 shutout innings from Blade Tidwell. Tidwell allowed just two hits while striking out six. Kevin Kendall drove in a run with a triple in the fifth inning before scoring on a D’Andre Smith single.

Calvin Ziegler started Game 2, allowing two runs (one earned) in just 1 1/3 innings. However, Joel Diaz came on to deliver his most impressive performance of the year, striking out 11 in six shutout innings to earn the series-deciding win. An RBI single from Kevin Parada would prove to be the difference in a 3-2 victory.

Díaz dealt. 🔥

Joel Díaz struck out 11 in six scoreless innings for the @StLucieMets last night. pic.twitter.com/UZzkB3jLPi

— Mets Player Development (@MetsPlayerDev) September 16, 2022

Organizational Leaders

Batting

AVG – Brett Baty (SYR) – .315

OPS – Brett Baty – .943

HR – Daniel Palka (SYR)/Ronny Mauricio (BNG)/Francisco Alvarez (SYR) – 26

SB – Omar De Los Santos (SLU) – 70

Pitching (min. 20 innings)

ERA – Daniel Juarez (SYR) – 1.66

SO – Dominic Hamel (BRK) – 145

WHIP – Jeffrey Colon (BRK) – 0.99

Players of the Week

Offensive – Jake Mangum, OF Syracuse

Mangum would have likely been in the conversation for a late-season call-up had he not missed nearly three months with a back injury. Since returning from the IL, the 26-year-old outfielder has slashed .325/.367/.482 with six stolen bases and three home runs in 83 at-bats.

Mangum likely profiles best as a fourth outfielder in the major leagues. While his power is limited, Mangum has shown a knack for putting the ball in play while limiting strikeouts. His above-average speed and excellent outfield defense could earn Mangum a role with the Mets in 2023.

Pitching – Joel Diaz, RHP St. Lucie

Joel Diaz was dominant to lock down St. Lucie’s spot in the FSL Championship, allowing just three hits and a walk while striking out eleven in six shutout innings.

It seems like we’ve been waiting all year for this type of performance from Diaz. After pitching to a 0.55 ERA in 49 1/3 innings in the DSL in 2021, the 18-year-old right-hander struggled to a 5.86 in his first full season stateside. However, he’s shown flashes of his potential thanks to a mid-90s fastball and a strong changeup and curveball. If Diaz can build on his impressive finish to the 2022 season, he could make for a very intriguing prospect in 2023.

Upcoming Schedule

Triple-A Syracuse – @ Worcester

Low-A St. Lucie – vs. Dunedin (FSL Championship)

The post Mets Minors Weekly Recap: St. Lucie Advances to Championship; Brooklyn Falls in Semis appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Carlos Dominguez, Photo by Ed Delany of MMO

The St. Lucie Mets entered the ninth inning of the first game of their Championship Series down 5-4. After a Kevin Parada walk and two outs, the Mets found themselves down to their last out. That kind of pressure did not both Carlos Dominguez, however, as he blasted a two-run homer over the center field fence to give the Mets a lead that they would not relinquish.

AAA: Syracuse Mets (59-82) 9, Buffalo Bisons (72-67) 8  Box Score

• Francisco Álvarez C: 2-for-4, R, HR, 5 RBI, K, .200/.345/.407
• Jake Mangum LF: 3-for-4, 3 R, HR, 2 RBI, K, .352/.388/.491
• Carlos Rincon RF: 1-for-4, R, HR, 2 RBI, 2 K, .215/.264/.339

Three home runs powered Syracuse to a shootout victory against the Bisons on Sunday. Álvarez got the Mets started right away with his three-run home run with nobody out in the first inning. The home run was his 26th of the season and his second in six games since returning from the injured list. Mangum continued his hot streak with a three-hit game and even flashed a rare bit of power with his fourth home run of the season. He has recorded a hit in nine straight games and is hitting .382/.426/.564 so far in September.

Francisco Álvarez got ALL of this one 😱 pic.twitter.com/5IkSGXtdOz

— Mets Player Development (@MetsPlayerDev) September 18, 2022

• RHP Connor Grey (5-6, 6.26 ERA) 2.2 IP, 6 H, 6 ER, BB, 3 K
• RHP Eric Orze (4-3, 5.36 ERA) 1.1 IP, H, 2 ER, BB, 3 K
• RHP Yoan López (W, 2-2, 5.17 ERA) 1.0 IP, BB

Grey was hit very hard by the Bisons’ hitters, giving up three home runs in less than three innings of work. Orze had similar issues in his appearance, as he gave up a two-run shot of his own that resulted in Buffalo taking an 8-4 lead in the fourth inning. Orze has had home run issues all season and has now given up eleven home runs in 45 1/3 innings of work (by comparison, he has given up just 14 walks all year).

AA: Hartford Yard Goats (77-60) 8, Binghamton Rumble Ponies (53-83) 4  Box Score

• Ronny Mauricio SS: 2-for-4, R, K, .259/.296/.472
• Brandon McIlwain CF: 2-for-4, R, .219/.307/.323
• Nic Gaddis 3B: 1-for-4, R, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 K, .181/.297/.255

Binghamton had tons of offense early in Sunday’s game, as doubles by Gaddis and Luke Ritter brought home four runs in the first two innings. The lineup, however, would be held to just two hits for the remainder of the game. With two more hits, extending his hitting streak to five games, Mauricio has brought his on-base percentage closer to .300 than it has been at any point since May 22.

• RHP David Griffin (1-7, 5.46 ERA) 3.0 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
• RHP Jordan Geber (L, 0-1, 13.50 ERA) 2.0 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, BB, 3 K
• RHP Antonio Santos (3-3, 4.70 ERA) 2.0 IP, H, 3 K

Griffin struggled in Sunday’s start and has now given up three or more runs in four of his last five starts. Geber gave up three runs himself in a rocky Double-A debut. Santos was the best pitcher of the afternoon for Binghamton, punching out three batters and throwing just 27 pitches in two scoreless innings of work.

A: St. Lucie Mets (1-0) 6, Dunedin Blue Jays (0-1) 5  Box Score

• Raul Beracierta LF: 3-for-4, 2 RBI, .300/.352/.467
• Carlos Dominguez RF: 1-for-5, R, HR, 2 RBI, 2 K, .233/.324/.426
• Kevin Parada C: 1-for-3, 2 R, RBI, 2 BB, K, .276/.463/.414

The Mets began the Florida State League Championship Series with a dramatic comeback victory against the Blue Jays. After falling behind by two runs early in the game, St. Lucie entered the ninth inning down 5-4. Down to their final out, with Parada at first after a walk, St. Lucie was given the lead when Dominguez crushed a ball 404 feet and over the center field fence. Including this championship game, Parada has walked as much as he has struck out (14 times apiece) so far in his professional career.

I traveled a long way to watch the Blue Jays lose a competitive game & NYM OF prospect Carlos Dominguez waited 26 outs to send me home happy. First impression of the @stluciemets is that they’re very great at celebrating. Good luck the rest of the way #clutch #postseason pic.twitter.com/e6ZGxJ8VWu

— Eric_Birdland (@Eric_Birdland) September 19, 2022

• RHP Layonel Ovalles (0-1, 6.23 ERA) 2.0 IP, 3 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
• LHP Felipe De La Cruz (0-0, 0.00 ERA) 3.1 IP, 4 H, ER, BB, 4 K
• RHP Raimon Gomez (W, 4-5, 3.78 ERA) 3.2 IP, 2 K

Ovalles relied heavily on his 94 MPH fastball (he threw it 69% of the time) in his championship game start, but that strategy did not work well for him. The four runs he allowed were tied for the most he had allowed in a start all season. De La Cruz mixed speeds a bit better, with his slider being his most used pitch. However, it was his changeup that was his most dominant pitch, generating whiffs on five of the nine swings against it. Gomez was perfect in closing out the final 3 2/3 frames of the game. It didn’t hurt that his blazing fastball was turned up a notch or two in this game: he averaged 98 MPH and threw a 100.2 MPH fastball in the game, his hardest pitch of the season.

The post Mets Minors Recap: St. Lucie Wins First Championship Game In Comeback Fashion appeared first on Metsmerized Online.