Las Vegas 51s @ Tacoma Rainiers, 10:00pm EST
Matt Fox (1-1, 4.09 ERA) vs. Erasmo Ramirez (0-1, 3.18 ERA)
Fox turned in his second consecutive start with at least six innings pitched on June 2nd against Fresno. He earned his second no-decision of the season, but allowed two runs on three hits, no walks, and three strikeouts. It was the first time in his four starts with Las Vegas we didn’t see him allow a home run during his appearance. Fox has allowed only two walks in his 22 innings pitched this season, and they both came in the same game against Iowa on May 23rd. He’s getting used to pitching away from Vegas since arriving in Triple-A; this will be the fourth time he starts a game on the road (fifth start overall). He’s 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA as the visiting pitcher.
Binghamton Mets @ Altoona Curve, 6:00pm EST
Rafael Montero (6-2, 2.72 ERA) vs. Casey Sadler (6-3, 3.33 ERA)
Upon returning to Binghamton after a spot start with Triple-A Las Vegas, Montero has continued to show he’s ready for the next level. In his last two starts, he’s thrown 13 shutout innings, allowing nine hits, three walks, and 12 strikeouts. Not surprisingly, both of these appearances ending with Montero getting credit for a victory. He pitches well wherever he is, but he’s especially stingy on the road. Montero is 3-1 with a 1.45 ERA with 33 strikeouts against only three walks in 31 innings pitched. Word on the street is Zack Wheeler will be called up to the majors next week. We’ve heard Wheeler’s promotion won’t be tied to Montero’s, but one would imagine his arrival to Triple-A won’t be long once there’s a rotation spot open.
St. Lucie Mets @ Jupiter Hammerheads, 6:35pm EST
Angel Cuan (5-1, 3.89 ERA) vs. Andrew Heaney (0-0, 1.46 ERA)
Following two straight seven inning shutout performances, Cuan came back down to earth on June 2nd against Charlotte. The southpaw got the no decision after throwing five innings and allowing three runs on seven hits, one walk, and six strikeouts. Since not striking anyone out on May 10th against Pembroke, he’s struck out 21 hitters in his last 19 innings pitched. He struggled to a 6.88 ERA in April (despite his 3-1 record), but had a great May to get his season back on track (2-0, 1.23 ERA). Cuan will look to extend his personal unbeaten streak to seven starts.
Savannah Sand Gnats @ Rome Braves, GM 1, 5:00pm EST
Jake Kuebler (0-2, 3.03 ERA) vs. Frank Lafreniere (3-3, 5.33 ERA)
Savannah Sand Gnats @ Rome Braves, GM 2, immediately following GM 1
TBD vs. TBD
Kuebler gets the honors of starting game one of today’s doubleheader in Rome for the Sand Gnats. He appeared in eight games as a reliever before being inserted into the starting rotation. This will be his third start of the season, and he will be trying to make it out of the fourth inning for the first time. His last start was on May 31st against Kannapolis. Kuebler threw four innings, allowing two runs on four hits, no walks, and two strikeouts. At this time, the starters for game two haven’t been announced yet. Once they are, this post will be updated.
Puzzling to me why Montero is still pitching in AA. Unless they don’t want him exposed to Vegas for a long stretch and are trying to use him as trade bait… The kid could pitch in the show on most teams including ours right now! His control alone would get him into any rotation. Love Montero and the rest of our minor league pitchers! Hope we don’t do anything silly and trade them too soon! I wouldn’t trade them at all but that’s just the fan in me. I think we hold on to them and spend 50 mill that’s coming off the books on free agents and we are gonna look like a new team next year! Even if they low ball us and only spend 30mill we will be looking good with all of our kids coming up!
The way he’s pitching- as well as the rest of the young and talented starting pitching- is incredibly encouraging. I think we’ll definitely be seeing him in Vegas at some point this season, it’s just a matter of when. With all the money coming off the books, there’s an opportunity to see a whole new team next season. We’ll see what Sandy is able to do.