Series Preview: Rochester at Scranton/WB

After securing a 4-2 series victory over the Syracuse Mets on Sunday, the Rochester Red Wings will take the 225.1-mile trip to PNC Field for a six-game set with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees. With the Red Wings just five games behind the RailRiders in the International League second half standings, the six-game series is set to kick off on tonight, August 4 at 7:05 p.m. With one of the organization’s most prospect-heavy rosters welcoming the Red Wings into town, here’s a look at six RailRiders who rank among the Yankees’ top 30 prospects.

3. RHP Elmer Rodriguez

Elmer Rodriguez is one of five RailRider arms ranked within the top 30 of Yankees’ prospects, with the flamethrower holding the lowest ERA (2.77) in all of Minor League Baseball (min. 75 IP). In 15 appearances on the hill this season, Rodriguez has become one of the most difficult pitchers in Minor League Baseball to square up, ambushing hitters with an upper-90’s fastball.

Moreover, the 23-year-old has combined the speed with great consistency, having registered seven efforts with only one run while also commanding two scoreless performances on the season (4/15, 7/31).

Rodriguez has maintained a strong profile versus the Red Wings this season, as the right-hander carries the lowest ERA (1.69) of any Triple-A pitcher with at least 10 innings worked against the team.

19. RHP Brendan Beck

Few Minor League pitchers have been as dominant as Brendan Beck this season. The Stanford product has overwhelmed hitters at a remarkable pace, slinging a lower-90’s four-seam fastball while also having posted the second-lowest ERA (1.39) and 10th-lowest WHIP (0.93) on average throughout June and July. Beck has also been able to neutralize both sides of the diamond, holding left and right-handed hitters to .195 and .209 averages, respectively.

Beck also boasts careful control of the strike zone, as he currently carries the second-lowest rate of balls per nine innings (2.76) of any RailRider this season (min. 45 IP).

28. RHP Eric Reyzelman

Although his first two years in Triple-A have come with growing pains, Eric Reyzelman remains as one of the Yankees’ more intriguing bullpen prospects. The 25-year-old has allowed just two hits throughout his last seven appearances while logging eight scoreless appearances on the season, showcasing his upside as a high-leverage bullpen arm. Reyzelman also averages a mid-90’s fastball, consistently filling the strike zone.

Reyzelman has pitched just 4.1 innings against the Red Wings throughout his career, yet to allow a run while letting up four hits versus the team.

RHP Carlos Lagrange (No. 4) and RHP Kyle Carr (No. 10) also hold spots in the top 30, although the two are currently on the injured list. When healthy, the two stand as premier pitching prospects within Scranton’s rotation, with Lagrange slinging an explosive high-90’s fastball and combining it with a keen ability to get hitters off-kilter.

Carr boasts much of the same tendencies, as the left-hander tosses a lower-90’s fastball paired with a strong profile against left-handed hitters.

The RailRiders are 8-4 against the Red Wings this season, owning a 4-2 record both at PNC Field and ESL Ballpark.