SYRACUSE (Interstat) — The Lehigh Valley IronPigs (66-76) visit the Syracuse Mets (75-67) on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, in an International League (AAA) game at NBT Bank Stadium in Syracuse, N.Y. The forecast calls for 75 degrees and cloudy conditions.

Lehigh Valley is expected to start Chuck King (10-8). Syracuse lists Jack Wenninger (5-8) as its probable pitcher.

Alan Rangel is a player to watch for Lehigh Valley. In his most recent start Wednesday at Syracuse, Rangel pitched five innings, allowed six hits and four earned runs with two walks and 10 strikeouts. He pitched five innings and allowed six earned runs Sept. 10 against Worcester. He allowed one earned run over 5 1/3 innings Sept. 3 at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He also pitched four innings and allowed five earned runs Aug. 29 against Syracuse and three innings and allowed nine earned runs Aug. 23 at Buffalo.

Jefferson Rojas is a player to watch for Syracuse. He went 3-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs Wednesday against Lehigh Valley. He was 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBIs Tuesday.

Lehigh Valley lost 5-4 at Syracuse on Wednesday. Robert Moore went 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs, and Keaton Anthony was 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Rangel recorded 10 strikeouts in five innings.

Syracuse won 5-4 against Lehigh Valley on Wednesday. Jonathan Santucci allowed three earned runs over 5 1/3 innings with three walks and six strikeouts. Chayce McDermott struck out two in a scoreless inning. Rojas had three hits, one home run and two RBIs.

Syracuse leads the series 2-0 after winning 9-1 Tuesday and 5-4 Wednesday. The Mets also won 8-0 on Aug. 30 and 6-0 on Aug. 29 at Lehigh Valley. Lehigh Valley won 6-4 on Aug. 28. Syracuse won 8-7 on Aug. 27 and 11-1 on Aug. 26. Lehigh Valley won 2-1 on Aug. 25. Syracuse won 5-4 on June 28, and Lehigh Valley won 8-6 on June 27.

Lehigh Valley has lost two straight after falling 9-1 at Syracuse on Tuesday. Worcester won 8-7 on Sept. 13, and Lehigh Valley beat Worcester 7-5 on Sept. 12 and 4-1 on Sept. 11.

Syracuse has won two straight. The Mets lost 6-5 at Saint Paul on Sept. 13 and won 9-7 on Sept. 12 and 10-4 on Sept. 11.

The series continues Friday, Saturday and Sunday at NBT Bank Stadium.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a final score of Syracuse Mets 5, Lehigh Valley IronPigs 4. Interstat’s ELO system gives Syracuse a 60.5 percent probability to win.