(Reading, PA) - The Reading Fightin Phils (Philadelphia Phillies, Double-A) are playing host to the Binghamton Rumble Ponies (New York Mets, Double-A) for a six-game series from this Tuesday through Sunday. This is the final regular season battle between the two squads. Reading holds a 2.5 game advantage over Binghamton atop the Eastern League-Northeast Division standings.
Tuesday is the 23rd annual morning game, as the Reading Iced Coffees will take the field for an 11 a.m. start. The first 2,000 adults to show up at the gates get a Reading Iced Coffees game cap. Wednesday is a retro animation tribute with “Mickey Mouse” co-branded merchandise available in the team store. Thursday starts a run of back-to-back fireworks shows and a primetime weekend slate between two top Eastern League competitors. Friday is the second fireworks show of the week, and Saturday will mark the final drone show of the 2026 season, celebrating 60 Seasons of Phillies Affiliation and Celebrating “Swifties”. The Phillie Phanatic will be at America’s Classic Ballpark for the Sunday game.
Reading (29-21, 59-60) won the series on their road trip to Portland, taking four of six games from the Sea Dogs (Red Sox Double-A affiliate) and extending the margin between the two teams to 4.5 games. Bryan Rincon went 12-for-28 (.429 batting average) with two homers and four runs batted in to the tune of a 1.270 OPS. Rincon, the Phillies’ No. 5 prospect, had the most hits (12) of anyone in the Eastern League last week. Raider Tello went 8-for-16 (.500 batting average) that week as well.
The Fightins pitching came alive down the stretch, allowing just eight runs over the final four games. Fightin Phils pitching has allowed just 394 walks this year, the lowest mark in the Eastern League. Every starter went at least five innings last week too.
Rincon is having a career season, logging at least 100 games in a season for the first time in his professional career. His lead-off home run on Aug. 22 clinched a 20-20-20 season, the second Fightin Phils player to do so this year (joining Raylin Heredia). Rincon’s 16.9% walk rate is also one of the best in Minor League Baseball.
Binghamton (27-24, 54-56) just took five of six games from the Altoona Curve (Pirates Double-A) this past week, and the team is 18-3 in the month of August. The Rumble Ponies were 10 games back from the Fightin Phils on Aug. 1, a day before the two teams finished their six-game set in Reading.
Michael Collins’ squad has won at least five in each of their last three series, and the last time they dropped a six-game set was in Reading, when the Fightins won 4-2.
Jefferson Rojas is the Mets’ top prospect. The team acquired him at the 2026 MLB Trade Deadline in exchange for right-handed pitcher Clay Holmes and outfielder Tyrone Taylor. Since joining the team’s Double-A affiliate, Rojas is slashing .281/.333/.896 with four homers and 19 runs batted in over 16 contests.
The pitching matchups for this week are as follows:
- Tuesday: LHP Adam Seminaris (11-8, 3.52 ERA) vs. RHP Gary Gill HIll (2-0, 3.18 ERA)
- Wednesday: RHP Cody Bowker (1-0, 1.80 ERA) RHP Noah Hall (1-2, 7.40 ERA) vs.
- Thursday: RHP Jean Cabrera (3-5, 6.86 ERA) vs. TBA
- Friday: RHP Gage Wood (0-2, 4.45 ERA) vs. RHP Luke Gabrysh (1-0, 7.20 ERA)
- Saturday: RHP Luke Russo (10-8, 4.61 ERA) vs. RHP R.J. Gordon (4-7, 4.75 ERA)
- Sunday: LHP Adam Seminaris (11-8, 3.52 ERA) vs. RHP Gabe Davis (1-0, 2.61 ERA)
The Mets’ top 30 prospects (per MLB.com) on the Rumble Ponies roster are as follows:
- No. 1 - Jefferson Rojas - 3B/SS
- No. 4 - Mitch Voit - SS/2B
- No. 7 - Jacob Reimer - 3B
- No. 17 - Gary Gill Hill - RHP
- No. 18 - Chris Suero - C/OF/1B
- No. 23 - Gabe Davis - RHP
- No. 28 - Luke Gabrysh - RHP
- No. 30 - R.J. Gordon - RHP
The 2026 R-Phils season is presented by Pepsi. Follow the Fightin Phils on Twitter @ReadingFightins, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Instagram @Fightins.