MLB

Both NY teams on the lookout for some minor miracles

With the second half of the baseball season underway, some burning questions involving the local teams could soon be answered.

Will the Yankees put together a stretch of baseball that will propel them into the playoffs after a one-year absence? And are the Mets for real after an 8-2 homestand to close the first half — or was that just a mirage?

Meanwhile, down on the farm, the minor league season chugs along, with prospects keeping an eye on the prize — a call-up to the majors.

Here’s a look at how the team’s affiliates shake up, with a prospect to watch:

Yankees

Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (46-52)
Second baseman Rob Refsnyder continues to make a case for a potential call-up, posting a .311 batting average and .956 OPS in 34 games thus far.

Peter O’BrienGetty Images

Double-A Trenton Thunder (44-54)
Despite a pedestrian .233 batting average, catcher/first baseman Peter O’Brien is still slugging the ball, having connected for 19 homers in 227 at-bats.

High-A Tampa Yankees (45-51)
Hot pitching prospect Luis Severino is dominating the Florida State League, with a 1.31 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 20²/₃ innings.

Class A Charleston RiverDogs (45-52)
Jacob Lindgren — the team’s first draft pick last month — pitched only four games for the RiverDogs before recently getting promoted to Tampa, and made quite an impact: 11 strikeouts and no walks in just five innings, with only one hit allowed.

Short Season Class-A Staten Island Yankees (17-16)
Infielder Ty McFarland, who was taken in the 10th round last month, has been steady for the Baby Bombers, with a .288 average and a team-leading 14 extra-base hits in 111 at-bats.

Mets

Triple-A Las Vegas 51s (56-43)
Despite striking out more than a batter per inning, Noah Syndergaard continues to struggle, with a 5.74 ERA in 84²/₃ innings. It remains to be seen whether he’ll receive a September call-up.

Dilson Herrera, left, gets up quickly to run to third after the Erie SeaWolves’ Marcus Lemon couldn’t handle the throw to second.AP

Double-A Binghamton Mets (59-38)
Infielder Dilson Herrera, who was acquired in the Marlon Byrd trade last August from the Pirates, has been revelatory for the B-Mets, with a .333 batting average and .903 OPS in 99 at-bats.

High-A St. Lucie Mets (56-37)
Shortstop Gavin Cecchini — the team’s first draft choice two years ago — is struggling, with a .186 batting average in 86 at-bats. However, an American League scout has said the 20-year-old is still growing into the game.

Class A Savannah Sand Gnats (60-33)
Akeel Morris, who attended high school in the Virgin Islands, has been lights-out in the bullpen. In 43 innings, he has pitched to a 0.84 ERA, struck out 68 batters, and allowed only 16 hits (one home run).

Short Season Class-A Brooklyn Cyclones (15-18)
Third baseman Jhoan Urena has been the Cyclones’ best hitter thus far, with a .308 batting average and a team-leading 12 extra-base hits.