By: J.J. Pavlick | Wappingers Falls, NY | April 25, 2026
There was never going to be baseball in the Hudson Valley on Saturday. The rain didn’t tease, didn’t flirt, and didn’t give anyone a reason to drive to Heritage Financial Park and hope for a window. These two will now have their second doubleheader on the books, one on Sunday and the other back in Brooklyn on May 21st. It was a washout from the start — a clean, early postponement that shifted all attention to Sunday’s doubleheader between the Brooklyn Cyclones and the Hudson Valley Renegades.
Collins Goes Yard on Cole
Just in case you missed the bomb off the bat of Collins off Cy Young Winner Garrit Cole of the New York Yankees.
Because tomorrow isn’t about standings — not in High‑A, not in April, not for a system built on development. Tomorrow is about arms. It’s about health. It’s about the pipeline feeding a Mets organization that just crawled out of a 12‑game losing streak and is still trying to steady itself. A look back at the game: Collins homered off Gerrit Cole as Collins speaks with Cyclones Radio personality Justin Rocke the next day.
A High‑Stakes Pitching Showcase
The opener now carries real weight for the Mets. RHP Dylan Ross, the organization’s No. 18 prospect and a member of the 40‑man roster, will take the ball for Brooklyn as he continues his rehab assignment. Ross hasn’t allowed a run this season, but the numbers aren’t the story — the timeline is. The Mets need healthy arms. They need power. They need options. And Ross represents all three.
This outing is a checkpoint in his return, a chance to show the command, velocity, and durability the big club desperately needs after the kind of losing streak that shakes an entire organization.
Hudson Valley counters with RHP Sean Paul Liñan, the Yankees’ No. 23 prospect. His 0–2 record hides a 3.72 ERA and a fastball that plays better than the stat line suggests. It’s a legitimate matchup—a real test for Ross and a real look at where he stands.
The Nightcap: Another Arm Worth Watching
Game 2 belongs to RHP Channing Austin (0–1, 2.19), one of the most quietly effective arms in Brooklyn’s rotation. He’s pitched well enough to win, but run support hasn’t followed. Sunday gives him a shorter window — seven innings instead of nine — and a chance to set the tone early.
Hudson Valley sends LHP Franyer Herrera (0–0, 4.50), a lefty with enough movement to frustrate hitters if he finds the zone.
Doubleheaders at this level aren’t about endurance. They’re about execution. Managers have fewer innings to work with, fewer outs to play with, and almost no margin for sloppy baseball. The bullpen “bridge” relievers become the hinge of the entire afternoon.
How to Follow
Coverage begins at 12:50 p.m. on the Cyclones Radio Network with the full pre‑game show. After Sunday’s twin bill and Monday’s league‑wide off day, Brooklyn returns home to Coney Island.
Upcoming Homestand: The Frederick Keys Return to Affiliated Ball
Tuesday, April 28, marks more than just another series. It marks the return of the Frederick Keys to affiliated Minor League Baseball after five seasons in the MLB Draft League. Now the High‑A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, the Keys rejoin the South Atlantic League with a roster full of legitimate talent.
This is a homecoming for a franchise with history—and a fresh test for Brooklyn.
Prospects to Watch
- Wehiwa Aloy (Orioles No. 5) — already showing early‑season power
- Juaron Watts‑Brown (Orioles No. 14) — coming off a hitless, dominant outing
Game Times
- First pitch Tuesday: 6:40 p.m.
- Gates open: 6:00 p.m.
Fans will get their first look at a Keys team that suddenly matters again—and a Cyclones roster trying to build momentum behind a doubleheader that could shape the week.
Player Spotlight: The Arms That Matter
Dylan Ross — Mets No. 18
- Fastball: 96–99 mph, power reliever frame
- Out Pitch: High‑whiff splitter
- Season: 0.00 ERA (Rehab Assignment)
- Why It Matters: His return impacts the Mets’ bullpen depth chart immediately
Sean Paul Liñan — Yankees No. 23
- Fastball: Low‑90s with heavy sink
- Out Pitch: High-spin change-up
- Season: 0–2, 3.72 ERA
- Why It Matters: A real test for Ross’s timing and command
What to Watch
- The Rehab Factor: Ross’s outing is a major checkpoint in his return to the Mets’ 40‑man roster.
- Doubleheader Strategy: Seven‑inning games change everything — bullpen usage becomes the story.
- New Rivalries: The Keys’ return adds a fresh dynamic to the South Atlantic League and a new measuring stick for Brooklyn.
The standings won’t tell you much at this level, and a rainout in the Hudson Valley won’t change a thing. What will matter on Sunday is the arm on the mound. Dylan Ross isn’t just another rehab assignment — he’s a piece of the Mets’ future trying to fight his way back onto a 40‑man roster that desperately needs stability. High‑A ball is where the next wave starts, and right now the big club in Queens needs every bit of help it can get after finally snapping that 12‑game losing streak on April 22nd.
Tomorrow’s doubleheader isn’t about wins and losses. It’s about who’s healthy, who’s developing, and who might be the next name the Mets call when things get tight again. That’s the story, value, and why these games matter.
If you want coverage that actually explains how these prospects fit into the Mets’ long-term picture—who’s rising, who’s rehabbing, and who might be the next answer in Queens—subscribe to the Bad Dawg Sports Newsletter for just $2 per year.
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