NationalsProspects.com

Friday’s News & Notes

Team Yesterday Today Probable Pitchers
Syracuse Lost, 8-3 @ Buffalo,
7:05 p.m.		 Espino (3-4, 3.25)
R. Hernandez (2-2, 4.33)
Harrisburg Lost, 2-1 @ Richmond,
7:00 p.m.		 Lopez (1-4, 4.15) vs.
Crick (1-3, 4.32)
Potomac Won, 6-5;
Won, 9-2		 @ Frederick,
7:00 p.m.		 Estevez (0-3, 5.02) vs.
Romero (1-0, 1.50)
Hagerstown Won, 6-3 @ Columbia,
7:05 p.m.		 Avila (3-3, 3.28) vs.
Ingram (3-4, 4.40)


Buffalo 8 Syracuse 3
• Laffey (L, 3-2) 5IP, 10H, 6R, 5ER, BB, 3K, HR
• Masset 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 1K
• Martinson 2-4, R, 3B, RBI
• den Dekker 1-3, R, HR, BB, RBI
• Goodwin 0-4, 2E, OF assists at 3B, HP

Buffalo’s three-run stampede in the 5th broke open a 3-1 game as they took Game One from Syracuse, 8-3. Starter Aaron Laffey took the loss with six runs allowed (five earned) on ten (10) hits and a walk over five innings. Jason Martinson (2-for-4) tripled and drove in a run while Matt den Dekker (1-for-3) went deep with a solo shot in the 1st as the Chiefs collected just six hits but drew four walks.
For those of you not on the Twitters, or can separate themselves from their smartphones during the evening, Bill “The Rocket” Ladson is reporting that Trea Turner will be replacing Ryan Zimmerman on the Nationals roster when the latter takes paternity leave [insert joke about strong finish to last season here].

New Hampshire 2 Harrisburg 1
• Mapes (L, 5-3) 7IP, 6H, 2R, 2ER, 2BB, 4K, HBP
• Glover 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 3K
• Soto 1-3, R, BB
• Ballou 2-4

Tyler Mapes’s no-decision streak ended with a loss as the Fisher Cats vetoed the Senators, 2-1 to take the series finale. Mapes went a season-long seven innings, giving up both New Hampshire runs on six hits and two walks while striking out four. His effort went unrewarded as it was an AAMCO night for the Harrisburg offense, as they struggled in the clutch (1-for-9 RISP) and left on ten men. Isaac Ballou, Shawn Pleffner, and Rafael Bautista each had two hits while Neftali Soto reached base twice on a single and a walk.

Potomac 6 Frederick 5 – GAME ONE
• Ross 6IP, 5H, 2R, 2ER, 3BB, 3K, HR
• Orlan (BS, 2; W, 2-0) 6IP, 5H, 2R, 2ER, 3BB, 3K, HR
• Brinley (SV, 9) 1IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Keller 4-5, R, 2RBI, OF assist at 1B
• Stevenson 3-4, R, BB, 3SB
• Marmolejos 2-4, 2R, 2B, BB, 2RBI

Frederick rallied for three against R.C. Orlan in the 7th but Potomac got the decisive run in the first “extra” inning to take the opener, 6-5. The surge took a win away from Greg Ross, who turned in a quality start of six innings of two-run ball on five hits (one HR) and three walks with 3K’s. Orlan got the blown-save-win while Ryan Brinley worked around a hit in the 8th to earn his ninth save. Alec Keller led the hit coulmn with a 4-for-5 night, followed by Andrew Stevenson at 3-for-4 with three stolen bases.

Potomac 9 Frederick 2 – GAME TWO
• Spann 3⅔ IP, 5H, R, ER, BB, K, HR
• Sanchez (W, 2-0) 3⅓ IP, 3H, R, ER, 0BB, 4K
• Masters 2-3, 2R, 2HR, 4RBI
• Abreu 3-4, 3R, RBI
• Marnolejos 1-2, 2B, 2BB, RBI

The first of two David Masters longballs highlighted a five-run 5th as the P-Nats completed the doubleheader sweep with 9-2 defeat of the Keys. Matt Spann got the spot start and let in one run on a HR and five hits total over three and 2/3rds innings. He walked one and struck out one. Mario Sanchez finished the game with one run over three and a 1/3rd innings with no walks and four K’s for his second win. Masters drove in four runs for the game, six for the doubleheader. Osvaldo Abreu singled three times and scored three times to pace the Potomac offense.

Hagerstown 6 Columbia 3
• A. Lee 4⅓ IP, 4H, 2R, 2ER, 2BB, 5K, HBP
• VanVossen (W, 1-1) 1⅔ IP, 3H, R, ER, 0BB, 0K, 3-1 IR-S
• Borne (SV, 1) 3IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 5K
• Wiseman 3-3, 2B, BB, RBI, SB, CS
• Schrock 3-5, R, 2B
• Page 1-2, 2R, 2B, BB

Hagerstown scored once in the 1st and four times in the 2nd and cruised to a 6-3 win over Columbia. Andrew Lee fell two outs short of qualifying for the win as he labored through four and a 1/3rd innings on 96 pitches (60 for strikes). He only walked two, but hit a batter and was charged with two runs on four hits. Mick VanVossen let in one of three inherited runners and allowed one run of his own, which was enough to get credit for the win. Grant Borne made his season debut with three scoreless and hitless innings with no walks and five strikeouts, good for the save. Rhett Wiseman and Max “For Those About To” Schrock both singled twice and doubled once as the Suns lit the Fireflies pitchers for 10 hits total

24 Commments

  1. Now the question is- will Turner actually start? Or will he continue get meager PR/PH opportunities.

    I wouldn’t mind if the Nats experimented with Murphy at 1B, if they’re really adamant on continuing to give Espinosa starts. And while they’re shaking things up, it can’t hurt to give Revere a rest too.

    1. Exactly. It may be much ado about very little if Clint Robinson replaces Zim at 1B and Turner just sits and pinch runs. Trea’s best chance to start might be tonight (Fri.) against the only lefty starter the Nats will face during the Reds series.

      1. Unfortunately, Espinosa also bats better against lefties. Since the Nats appear to have some inexplicable allegiance to Espinosa, I’d almost be okay with platooning Turner and Danny, with Danny getting starts vs LHPs and Turner vs RHPs. But then how will Drew get ABs?

        1. I would think that Trea might start at 2B, with Murph at 1B. Danny generally has hit better from the right side, plus since he has been going good, my bet is that Dusty doesn’t want to mess with his head by sitting him to start Trea.

          Whenever Trea gets his full promotion, I don’t see how the team can keep both Drew and Espinosa. They’re basically redundant.

          1. My expectation is that Espinosa will be the starter for the rest of this season unless he really tanks at the plate or the Nats start to collapse like last year. A team in first place and going well has no need to make a major lineup change, especially to give an untested rookie the most important position on the field. Espinosa will then likely be traded this offseason to make room.

            We all get excited about the shiny new toy of a hot prospect, but Turner might struggle as badly as Taylor has, and if that were the case the Nats are much better off with Espinosa’s experience in the lineup.

          2. How no-fun! Although I mostly tend to agree, to a point, or two points — if Danny’s BA dips to ~.180, or if the Nats fall to five games or so behind the Mets. The other obvious scenario would be an injury that opens in infield spot. But otherwise, I think they’ll stay with the chalk as long as the going’s good.

          3. What would constitute struggling for Turner, batting something like .200/.296/.341?

          4. Ah, those would be Espinosa’s current numbers, while he’s considered “hot.” FWIW, they look pretty similar to Trea’s premature call-up stats from 2015: .225/.296/.325.

          5. Three for three with a double and a walk. Looks like the kid is doing everything he can not to have to go back to Syracuse!

  2. Marmolejos has rebounded nicely from a short slump, hitting .314/.405/.600 over his past 10 games. Alec Keller continues to defy expectations. While the power hasn’t materialized, he’s shown a consistent ability to hit for average. Ward, while a little rusty since returning from injury, is also playing well.

    Meanwhile, Harrisburg could desperately use some offensive help.

    Also, after a short rough spell, Glover has returned to form. He hasn’t allowed a run in his last 8 appearances, across 10.2 IP, allowing 8 hits, striking out 13 and walking only 3.

    I’m not sure what to make of Nick Lee. His inclusion on the 40 man roster was curious, especially with Grace and Solis blocking his path to a LOOGY role. I have to think Glover is proving himself to be the more capable reliever.

    1. Considering that Marmolejos is a tick older for the level and that Pleffner is hitting .198 at Harrisburg, an “Orange” promotion would seem to be approaching.

      I never understood the Nick Lee inclusion on the 40-man, either, all the more so when they didn’t even send him to Syracuse. Supposedly he throws hard, but his lefty companion Harper has generally posted better numbers despite being a few MPH slower.

      Glover looks to be the real deal. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him with the big club in Sept. if they can find room on the 40-man (such as in Lee’s spot).

      1. Keller is actually the oldest of the trio. But given how passive the Nats have been with him since they drafted him, it appears he’s destined to fill the organizational filler role that the likes of Caleb Ramsey, Cutter Dykstra, Isaac Ballou and others have served before him.

        I understand that Stevenson is sort of blocked with Bautista ahead of him, but our corner OFs in Harrisburg are Ballou, and Zach Collier. Our 3B is Neftali Soto, and our 1B is Pleffner. None of Ward, Marmolejos or Keller face many obstacles ahead of them. I’d rather see what Keller can do in Harrisburg, begin playing at an appropriate age level, and maybe regain some prospect status.

        But all in all, it’s been an extremely quiet season so far. Last year, management was far more aggressive with promotions. How many have we seen so far this year? A few relievers, like Glover, Crownover, Solis, and maybe Turner, but surely I’m forgetting someone else??

        1. Really, among the position players at Harrisburg who still qualify as “prospects,” the only one showing much is Bostick (and even he would be docked a bit on power expectations after last season). Bautista is holding his own and has an impressive 26 SBs, but Difo is slashing .216/.296/.253. This from a guy who slugged .470 in 2014. I don’t mean to be dismissive of the other guys there, and I would be glad to have several of them prove me wrong, but none are really doing much right now to stamp themselves as potential major-leaguers.

          All of this by way of generally agreeing that there shouldn’t be much in the way of moving up guys like “Orange,” Ward, and Stevenson. Even if you end up with Stevenson and Bautista in the same OF, why would that be a problem at AA? I would think that Stevenson would get more of the time in CF as he’s a higher-rated prospect, but it doesn’t hurt any of them to get experience at all the OF spots. The big club will have openings in both LF and CF in the near future. (I’m not going to acknowledge the potential one in RF in 2.67 seasons; it’s too painful to contemplate.)

          1. I should qualify the first paragraph by saying that no guys other than Bostick are really looking like potential big-leaguers. Bostick is showing quite well at AA at age 23.

  3. Impressive debut by Borne after collecting a lot of splinters in very extended spring training. Looks like they may use him the same way they did Crownover, in almost starter innings as a long reliever. He followed an OK start by Andrew Lee, who is still posting strong K totals. Since Lee hasn’t been a full-time starter since the first half of his frosh season four years ago, you have to wonder what kind of an innings limit he will have for the season. He hasn’t gone more than 5.0 IP in any start.

    It’s very good to see Rhett Wiseman starting to “get it,” with 15 hits in his last 10 games. I still hope he can show more power, but contact is a good start.

    Schrock doesn’t have anything left to prove at Hagerstown, but he’s somewhat blocked by Mejia and Abreu at Potomac, both of whom are good enough prospects that they need to keep playing. (Similar circumstance to what was discussed yesterday about trying to move Stevenson up and potentially displace Bautista.)

    1. Several years of guys double billing as starters
      On farm.
      The one stat which opens the eyes is David
      Masters up to five HRs june 3. The light bulb
      Has turned on apparently .
      Dusty will be busy on his return to Cincy
      With the local media
      Seems eons ago since Cincy was ticked off
      At brass about the Kearns deal .

    2. Wiseman’s rebound is very good news indeed for a system that has been largely bereft of power recently.

    1. Byron Kerr says “mild oblique soreness” for Fedde.

      Speaking of missing persons, is there any news on Robles?

        1. Taylor Guilbeau bullpen guy or
          Potential guy to work into starter
          Down the road ??

  5. We’re going to have to start calling Marmolejos “Jose Two Bags.” Dude is a doubles machine. With his decent plate discipline and being a lefty, I think he has a decent shot of at least making it to the majors if he keeps hitting at the higher levels.

Comments are closed.