Monday’s News & Notes
| Team | Yesterday | Today | Pitching Probables |
| Rochester | Lost, 6-5 | OFF DAY | N/A |
| Harrisburg | Lost, 8-0 | OFF DAY | N/A |
| Wilmington | Lost, 7-1 | OFF DAY | N/A |
| Fredericksburg | Lost, 4-2 | OFF DAY | N/A |
Jacksonville 6 Rochester 5
• Lara (L, 1-6) 1⅔ IP, 2H, 4R, 4ER, 4BB, 2K
• Acosta 2IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Lipscomb 2-4, R, RBI, E(10)
• Mejía 2-4, R, RBI, E(5)
• Tena 2-5, RBI, 2SB
Andry Lara dug a 4-1 hole from which the Red Wings could not climb as the Jumbo Shrimp held on for a 6-5 win in the series finale. The 22-y.o. Venezuelan gave up more runs(4) than IP (1⅔) for the fourth straight appearance as Rochester’s opener with four hits, four walks, and two strikeouts. Trey Lipscomb, Francisco Mejía, and José Tena each singled twice and drove in a run while Christian “Hey It’s” Franklin homered to lead the Red Wings offense.
Altoona 8 Harrisburg 0
• Kent (L, 2-2) 5IP, 6H, 4R, 3ER, 2BB, 3K, 2HR
• Wallace 2-4
• Glasser 1-3, BB, 2B
Harrisburg bookended the series with another 8-0 shutout loss, this time on three hits. Jackson Kent lost for the second time in the series, giving up four runs (three earned) on six hits (two HR) and two walks over five innings. Cayden Wallace singled twice while Phillip Glasser doubled and walked. The rest of the Sens lineup went 0-for-24 with two walks and six whiffs.
Greensboro 7 Wilmington 1
• Randall (L, 0-3) 4⅔ IP, 6H, 4R, 3ER, 1BB, 2K
• White 2-4, 2K
• Dugas 2-4
• 0-6 RISP, 8 LOB
The Blue rocks reverted to the mean with a 7-1 loss in the series finale. Josh Randall let in the first four Grasshopper runs on six hits and a walk over four and 2/3rds. He struck out two while losing his third game for Wilmington. T.J. White and Gavin Dugas both singled twice while Marcus Brown homered to keep the Blue Rocks at 15 shutouts for the season.
Lynchburg 4 Fredericksburg 3
• Sales 5IP, 5H, 0R, 0BB, 3K, HBP
• Minckler (BS, 5; L, 3-6) ⅓ IP, 2H, 3R, 3ER, 2BB, 1K, WP
• Cox 2-4, HR, 2RBI
• Diaz 1-3, R
The Fredericksburg bullpen was unable to hold a 2-0 lead, giving up a run in the 6th and three in the 8th as they dropped the game, 4-2 and the series, 4-3. R.J. Sales tossed five scoreless innings with five hits, no walks, one Robles, and three whiffs. Ryan Minckler retired one of five batters faced and let in three runs on two hits and two walks for his fifth blown save, and sixth loss. Brenner Cox hit a two-run HR in the 5th and also singled, as did Randal Diaz and Nick Hollifield. Eli Willits went hitless for the first time as a pro, striking our three times. Despite the loss, the FredNats still hold a 1½ game lead in the C.L. North, though that could be trimmed to one if the Woodpeckers win today against the Salem Sox.
Nasim Nunez and Mason Thompson were named as the Nats’ 27 and 28th men.
Really feels like this team is just on autopilot at the moment.
Nunez has admittedly gotten hot in recent weeks, hitting a very good .354/.421/.462 in August, so I can understand his promotion, even if on the whole he’s had yet another poor season. But Thompson? Why bother? He’s sporting a 6.61 ERA across AA and AAA, with unsightly walk numbers.
Meanwhile, we have a worrying problem of R5 eligible players this winter. Fortunately, Alvarez was forced to the majors due to Gore’s injury, so we’ll get a look at him for a few weeks. But breakout pitcher of the year, Riley Cornelio, runner up breakout pitcher of the year, Kyle Luckham, our arguably best relief pitching prospect, Marquis Grissom Jr, and middling prospects like Chance Huff and Luke Young are all R5 eligible this winter. Wouldn’t we be better off seeing what we have in them, especially as at least one or two of them will need to be added to the 40 man quite soon.
Grissom is injured, but I don’t get the others, plus it could be a good way to put Parker and/or Irvin out of their misery early this season.
Cayden Wallace for August: .359/.413/.587. What a turnaround from a guy who was looking like he might not be invited to continue playing pro baseball next season.
Christian Franklin for August: .296/.381/.459.
But of these guys will be among a number of Rule 5 decisions this fall. Franklin in particular will be up against an OF positional logjam.
all these Rule 5 discussions are made more complicated with no GM in place for the future. trading some of those players for younger prospects is a viable way to avoid losing them for nothing.
Pinckney vs Franklin is an interesting decision. there are so many similarities in their draft and developmental stories.
I would love to see Chance Huff bumped to Rochester but Sr. may be begging them to leave him be for their playoff run.
PLAYOFFS? PLAYOFFS?
Not after this weekend!
Good point on no GM and all the decisions that will be pending this fall. Pinckney isn’t a Rule 5 decision until 2026, but of course his presence, and all the OFs already on the roster, could affect willingness to add Franklin and/or Schnell to the 40-man.
Wow! What a debut from Alvarez!!
Amazing what happens when you give guys a chance to shine. Not everyone will rise to the occasion, but some will. And in a lost season like this one, what’s the harm.
Hope we’ll find more space for some of the arms in our upper levels, instead of the guys struggling to keep their ERAs below 6
Ok Human league is on his soap box
Travis “ working for the weekend “ Sthele should head up to DD Sr rotation .
Auto pilot
Bail out ! Bail out !
Jump jump
Will the Lerner next generation invest in the guy in LA to come over if he wants another baseball project after Cubs and Dodgers resume ?