5 players to watch in 51s-New Orleans Zephyrs series

The New Orleans Zephyrs will come to Cashman Field for the only time this season. Here are five players to watch in the series:

Michael Conforto, OF, Las Vegas

Conforto was just optioned back to Triple-A Las Vegas on Friday and should be installed in left field this weekend where he can get consistent at-bats.

Conforto, the Mets’ first-round pick in 2014, skipped Triple-A on his way to the big leagues last year. He was sent down in June and had a short stint with the 51s, during which he hit .344 in 16 games.

After his call up, though, Conforto hit just .200 in 19 games.

Xavier Scruggs, 1B/LF, New Orleans

Scruggs attended UNLV for three years before being drafted in the 19th round by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2008.

Scruggs played for the Cardinals for a small part of 2014 and 2015. This weekend, he returns to Las Vegas, this time with the Zephyrs.

In his first year in the Marlins organization, he is hitting .281 in 88 games with the Zephyrs.

Robert Gsellman, RHP, Las Vegas

Gsellman had a rough first three starts to his Triple-A career. Since then, he has turned in four consecutive quality starts, and he’ll look for his fifth on Friday against the Zephyrs.

Gsellman has given up just nine runs in his last 26 2/3 innings, good for a 3.04 ERA over those past four starts. He has received little run support in his past few, though, and has taken three consecutive losses.

Josh Smoker, LHP, Las Vegas

Smoker has been highly reliable for the 51s since the All-Star break, giving up just three runs — one earned — in 14 innings pitched.

He’s struck out 18 in that time span and is limiting opponents to a .216 batting average against him. He also earned his first major league call up in that time, suiting up for the Mets as the 26th man in a doubleheader.

Justin Nicolino, LHP, New Orleans

Nicolino will oppose Gsellman in the first game of the four-game set.

The 2010 second-round pick had a rough time in Miami this season, going 2-5 with a 5.57 ERA.

He has given up four or more earned runs in three of his last four starts, but his last time out, he tossed seven innings and gave up just one hit against the Iowa Cubs.

Betsy Helfand can be reached at bhelfand@reviewjournal.com. Follow on Twitter:@BetsyHelfand