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.
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.
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.