Wednesday’s News & Notes
| Team | Yesterday | Today | Pitching Probables |
| Rochester | Won, 8-5 | @ Jacksonville, 7:05pm | Conley (2-3, 5.51) vs. Mazur (6-7, 4.36) |
| Harrisburg | Lost, 8-0 | vs. Altoona, 6:30pm | Bennett (0-1, 2.73) vs. Townsend (4-3, 1.97) |
| Wilmington | Lost, 5-3 | @ Greensboro, 6:30pm | Swan (0-2, 4.91) vs. Reed (1-3, 4.73) |
| Fredericksburg | Lost, 3-2 | @ Lynchburg, 4:30pm | B. Romero (2-4, 4.76) and Solesky (MiLB rehab)vs. McAusland (0-1, 6.75) and Prager (pro debut) |
Rochester 8 Jacksonville 5
• Alvarez (W, 3-7) 6IP, 3H, 2R, 2ER, 2BB, 6K, WP
• Pinckney 3-4, 2R, BB, 3B, 2HR, 5RBI
• Schnell 3-5, R, 2B, HR, 2RBI, CS
• Morales 2-4, 2R, BB, 2B, 2K
With a quality start and three home runs, Rochester took the series opemner from Jacksonville, 8-5. Andrew Alvarez won for the third time in 25 starts as he let in two runs on three hits and two walks over six innings, He struck out six. Andrew Pinckney homered twice, scored twice, walked, and drove in five while Nick Schnell singled twice, doubled once, and plated two to lead the Red Wings offense. Roster moves: RHP Daison Acosta reassigned from Harrisburg..
Altoona 8 Harrisburg 0
• Kent (L, 2-1) 4IP, 4H, 4R, 4ER, 3BB, 6K, WP
• Sinclair 1⅓ IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, 0K, 1-0 IR-S
• King 1-4, 2E
• S. Brown 1-4
The Senators were shut out, 8-0 on two singles by the Curve. Jackson Kent gave up four runs on four hits over four innings to lose for the first time at AA. He walked three and struck out six. Seaver King and Sam Brown both singled while Phillip Glasser walked twice and stole two bases to power the Harrisburg “offense.” Roster moves: C Caleb Lomavita promoted from Wilmington; LHP Lucas Knowles activated from 60-Day I.L.; C Caleb Farmer placed on the Development list.
Greensboro 5 Wilmington 3
• Randall (L, 0-2) 5IP, 5H, 5R, 5ER, 2BB, 4K, 2HR
• Jimenez 2IP, 0H, 0R, 1BB, 2K
• Yepez 2-4, R, HR, 3RBI
• Nunez 2-4, R
Greensboro erased an early 2-0 deficit with a three-run 1st and held on to take the series opener, 5-3. Josh Randall gave up all five Grasshopper runs on five hits (two HR) and two walks while striking out four to take the loss, his second since joining the Blue Rocks. Juan Yepez drove in all three runs with a two-run HR in the 1st and an RBI single in the 8th. Elijah Nunez singled twice and scored ahead of Yepez’s HR.
Lynchburg 3 Fredericksburg 2
• Sales (L, 1-3) 5IP, 5H, 3R, 3ER, 1BB, 8K, HR, HBP, 2WP
• Bekker 2IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 3K
• Bazzell 2-4, R, BB
• Willits 1-3, R, BB, SB
The FredNats’ offensive struggles continued as they left on 11 in a 3-2 loss to the Hillcats. R.J. Sales allowed all three Lynchburg runs on five hits (one HR), one walk, and one Robles over five innings. He struck out eight. Kevin Bazzell singled twice and drew a walk while Eli Willits reached base twice, stole second, and scored ahead of Nick “Power to the” Peoples’s RBI double – the lone hit in 14 RISP chances. Roster moves: RHP Tucker Biven (13th Rd. pick) assigned from Washington.
One appearance from Sam Petersen since August 5th, and none in the past 14 days. No IL moves. What’s up?
866 pitchers have started 10 or more games in the minors this season.
Among these, Travis Sykora has the 2nd highest strikeout rate (2nd only to an 18 year old with a 16 ERA in A ball) at 15.68/9IP.
Sitting in 4th place with 15.15? Jarlin Susana.
No surprises there. But here is where it gets interesting: there are 2 other Nats pitchers in the top 100. One sits at 26th overall with a 12.53 K/9 (and a spectacular 2.16 ERA. The other sits in 85th with 11.16 K/9. Can you guess who they are?
And a bonus bit of trivia: one of our arms sits at 855th of 866 with a 5.20 K/9. Can you guess who he is?
Meanwhile, Andrew Pinckney just went yard to reach 20 HR and join the 20/20 club. A feat only 6 other players in all of the minors leagues have accomplished this season! In fact, only 34 have even exceeded 20 HR! Pinckney is having an extremely underrated season.
Now back to those pitchers. Sitting in 85th place is Alex Clemmey, who I suspect some of you guessed. But who’s in 26th? None other than Liam Sullivan. He’s been ravaged by injuries in his career, but it’s also his 3rd season repeating in Fredericksburg. Time to give him a stiffer challenge! Oh, and the guy who can’t miss any bats? Travis Sthele.
Did anyone guess correctly?
Pinckney is one SB away from 30. He could end up 25/35.
There are a couple of things I find weird about his numbers. One is that despite his seeming success, his wRC+ is only a meh 104. The other is that after 22 doubles last summer he only has seven thus far in 2024. Are those drives to the gaps just clearing the fence now?
He still strikes out a bit much and could stand to walk more. But I’ve said for two years that he might ultimately beat out Hassell and Lile for the third OF spot because I thought he might have more HR power. It looks like he does.
One interesting kink in the Pinckney situation is that he’s not Rule 5 eligible until 2026, while Schnell and Franklin are eligible now. There are some decisions ahead, and perhaps some trades this winter.
Sorry, last comment for now: Lomavita’s promotion will surely make space for Boston Smith, right? But will they promote Hollifield to Wilmington or send Smith directly there? Bazzell certainly hasn’t earned a step up. Just a dreadful season from him. But I’ve seen stranger things happen.
I wouldn’t be so sure Bazzell isn’t going to get promoted. His stunningly awful start has actually masked a pretty decent offensive season from him. He’s put up a 107 wRC+ since May 1st, and is on a pretty decent hot streak right now with a 172 wRC+ over the past two weeks.
Maybe they want to keep him where he is to experience the playoff race (like they did with Sykora last year), but there’s no way that a $50k senior sign or a 14th rounder are going to force their way above him in the pecking order.
Tough night for Sens. It’s hard to win when your first eight pitches are balls and you give up four runs. Also, three errors. The team looked lethargic and nothing like the team the last two weeks.
Millas shaken up today and left the Yankees blowout. With Ruiz still out, possible the Nats will have to add a catcher to the active roster
Millas has a broken finger. So, a catcher from the farm is coming up. Good thing the Nats have such great organizational depth that the options are plentiful. Francisco Mejia (29) is hitting a robust .178 for Rochester, while CJ Stubbs (28) has smacked his way to .161 mark. Guessing they will go with Mejia as he has MLB experience. Amazing what a dumpster fire the Nats’ AAA catching situation is.