Monday’s News & Notes
| Team | Yesterday | Today | Pitching Probables |
| Rochester | Lost, 13-4 | OFF DAY | N/A |
| Harrisburg | Won, 12-2 | OFF DAY | N/A |
| Wilmington | Won, 10-5 | OFF DAY | N/A |
| Fredericksburg | Lost, 6-3 | OFF DAY | N/A |
Toledo 13 Rochester 4
• Cornelio 3IP, 2H, 1R, 1ER, 2BB, 2K
• Lara (L, 1-4) ⅔ IP, 4H, 4R, 4ER, 2BB, 0K
• Nuñez 2-3, BB, 2B, 2RBI
• Stubbs 1-3, 2R, 2B, BB
A six-run 8th put Toledo over the top in a 13-4 smackdown of Rocheste. Toledo also took the series, 5-1. Red Wings starter Riley Cornelio needed 65 pitches to get nine outs as he let in a run on two hits and two walks for a no-decision. Andry Lara took the loss with four runs allowed while retiring two of eight batters faced. Nasim Nuñez drove in two with a single and a double while C.J. Stubbs scored twice and reached base twice on a double and a walk to lead the Rochester offense.
Harrisburg 12 Erie 2
• Susana (W, 1-1) 5IP, 2H, 1R, 1ER, 3BB, 10K
• Vasquez 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 0K
• Wallace 4-5, 3R, 2B, 2HR, 4RBI
• Glasser 3-5, 2R, BB, 2-2B, 2RBI
• V. Peña 2-5, 2R, HR, 2RBI
• M. Romero 2-5, RBI
Jarlin Susana “only” struck out 10 while the Senators ransacked the SeaWolves pitchers for 15 hits in a 12-2 demolition. Susana walked three and let in one run on two hits over five innings to pick up his first win of the season. Cayden Wallace racked up 11 total bases with two homers, a double, and a single and drove in four while Phillip Glasser reached base four times on a single, walk, two doubles, and plated three to power the Harrisburg offense.
Wilmington 10 Winston-Salem 5
• Da. Garcia 2IP, 4H, 3R, 3ER, 1BB, 1K
• Aldonis (W, 1-0) 2⅔ IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, 3K
• Pimentel 4-6, 2R, 2B, 3B, HR, 3RBI
• Cruz 3-5, 2R, 2B
• White 2-4, R, BB, 2RBI
Brandon Pimentel hit for the cycle to highlight a 10-5 Wilmington win over Winston-Salem that stopped a six-game losing streak. Davian Garcia got the start but left after three runs let in on four hits and a walk over two innings. Pablo Aldonis snagged the “W” as he set down eight of nine batters faced. Armando Cruz followed Pimentel in the Blue Rocks’ 16-hit parade with two singles, two runs, and a double.
Fredericksburg 6 Fayetteville 3
• Polanco 4IP, 2H, 0R, 2BB, 3K, 2HBP
• Farias (L, 1-2) 1⅓ IP, 1H, 4R, 2ER, 0BB, 0K, 4HBP
• Minckler (BS, 4) ⅔ IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 2K, HR, 3-3 IR-S
• Mota 2-4, R, HR, RBI
• Cox 1-4, R, HR, RBI
The FredNats ‘pen went full LaLoosh, loading the bases on an error and two Robles in the 6th, then unloading them on single, two walks, and another Robles as the Woodpeckers doubled ’em up for a 6-3 win in the series finale. Victor Farias hit four batters over and inning and a 1/3rd and three of them came around to score to take the loss. Ryan Minckler walked two and wild-pitched in another to allow all three of his inherited runners to score for his fourth blown save. Jorgelys Mota and Brenner Cox both homered while Luke Dickerson tripled in the third run to lead the Fredericksburg offense.
Who is hotter right now Susana or Wallace?
Susana now has a 2.03 ERA over the past month with 52 K in 26.2 IP (17.6/9IP!!!), only 9 BB and a 0.83 WHIP. This is coming as a 21 year old in AA.
Meanwhile, Wallace is now 24 for his previous 48 with a slash of .500/.520/.833!!! It took 12 days for him to accumulate 24 hits, whereas before this hot streak, it took him 2 entire months to accumulate 24 hits (June 11-August 10), with a slash of .173/.259/.245. It’s insane how he’s gone from historically bad to historically good literally overnight. What was in his Wheatie’s on August 12th?
His parents were watching
The Nats main writer asked the question about who could fill in for Parker who has run out of mastery INK:
Bring back Fedde for rest of season
Soroka had so many starts in a sour season
At this point, literally anyone would be an improvement on Parker.
After a masterful start to April, Parker has a 7.48 ERA since April 27th… that he’s stayed in the rotation as long as he has is a mystery.
Andrew Alvarez has earned a chance. He’s also R5 eligible this winter, so we’d better see what we’ve got as he’ll require a 40 man add or likely lose him anyway. But Riley Cornelio and Kyle Luckham would be decent options too.
I don’t expect any to be great, but I think they can best Parker’s 7.50 ERA.
While we’re at it, Irvin too has been almost as bad. Since late May (past 16 starts), he has a 7.09 ERA.
And over Gore’s past 7 starts, he has a 7.88 ERA.
But why try to be better if there’s no consequences for underperformance?
I would agree with giving Alvarez a shot at Parker’s expense. let Mitchell get a breather, work on some things at AAA and hopefully get a start or two at season’s end to get a read on results
At this point, Parker needs at least a mental break. His confidence looks completely shot. He’s just waiting for the big inning to happen now. The Nats have at least one open spot (maybe two) on the 40 man roster; so, they can bring up anyone they choose without having to make a corresponding move. If Cornelio, ALvarez or Luckham can go 5 innings and give up 3 runs that would be an improvement.
Did the hometown mascot run for cover or did the PA system play the classic
Nowhere to run to nowhere to hide ???
If any Nats po shirt wearing brass teammate reading this
Hang onto Lara
!! We all know that a guy like him. If he was in dodger system would be “ Buck Rodgered” towards a year the two Latin Phillies arms are having
Cue the song for Eddie Lorenz
REO Speedwagon
Don’t Let Him Go
What’s the deal with Andry Lara? He was arguably our breakout pitcher of the year last season, and now the team seems to have given up on his, and converted him to relief at age 22.
I don’t want to complain about the Nats converting SPs to relief too soon, because there’s a sometimes absurd reluctance to do this, but Lara’s conversion feels way too early, and out of character with everything else in the org. The whole season has been a big question mark. He was having an awful start in Rochester, got injured, was rehabbing and got rocked hard in Harrisburg, and then inexplicably got promoted to DC immediately after to pitch out of the bullpen, something he’s basically never done before in his career. Understandably, he struggled, got demoted and now he appears to be a reliever for good. Not sure what brass has seen from him in this role to figure that’s his future. But a strange case…
Lara is this season’s Joan Adon. Praying next year’s GM brings in new development staff.
I agree that it is surprising but Lara has not helped himself with poor command. first time in his career that his walk rate has been this high. at 22 he could get another shot in the AAA rotation in the spring and get back on track.
Wil and others . This proves they are lacking new inventive ideas on how to improve a pitcher with starting skills . Wow the system could use a “ Buck Rodger’s “ mind or Joe Kerrigan or Larry Bearnerth.
Nunez has put together quite a month of August, .383/.474/.963 for the Wings.
Dusty’s Kid going the other direction .100/.250/.100 after three solid months.
Glad you mentioned the Wings, because I thought you were talking about the other Nunez, Elijah, who is presently hitting .361/.429/.472/.901 for the Rocks in August.
Among the things that stands out about Eli Willits’ start in F’burg (yes, its way early to draw any conclusion) is 17 PAs and 1 strikeout. Good things happen when the batter puts the ball in play, particularly with Willits’ wheels. Also, he is 3 and half years younger than league average. Essentially, this is a HS rising senior (Willits reclassified as he entered HS in the class of 2026) playing against opponents that would be juniors in college.
I was at another Red Wings game yesterday and it just shows how the two organizations are going in opposite directions. Over the 6 game series with Toledo, Red Wing pitchers gave up 71 runs. It’s not just one pitcher having a bad outing, it’s everyone. Granted Toledo is in first place and any decent RW pitcher is with the Nats, but it was painful to watch. Arruda has become a fan favorite and I think some fans stay to see if he’ll be pitching to finish the game with an ERA of 0.00 . I have tickets for the final weekend of the season though.