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Wednesday’s News & Notes

Team Yesterday Today Probable Pitchers
Syracuse Won, 3-1 vs. Indianapolis,
6:35 p.m.		 Laffey (3-0, 1.50) vs.
Kuhl (2-0, 1.35)
Harrisburg Won, 7-6 @ Richmond,
12:05 p.m.		 Long (1-1, 2.03) vs.
Mejia (0-0, 3.63)
Potomac Lost, 4-3 (10 inn.) @ Carolina,
11:00 a.m.		 Whiting (3-1, 4.03) vs.
Clark (0-3, 6.12)
Hagerstown Lost, 4-3 OFF DAY N/A


Syracuse 3 Indianapolis 1
• Voth (W, 2-1) 6IP, 6H, 0R, 0BB, 7K
• Martin (SV, 6) 1IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 1K
• Ramsey 2-3, 2B, 2RBI
• Martinson 1-3, R, BB, SB

Caleb Ramsey drove in two, Austin Voth turned in six, and the Chiefs won, 3-1. The veteran OF singled and doubled to lead Syracuse’s offense, whch was held to seven hits and two walks. It was enough because Voth blanked Indianapolis for six innings, giving up six hits but no walks while fanning seven as he won his second game. Three relievers combined for one-run relief over the final innings with Erik Davis and Trevor Gott earning holds and Rafael Martin notching his sixth save. Roster move: OF Tony Campana activated from the 7-Day DL.

Harrisburg 7 Richmond 6
• Williams 5+ IP, 10H, 4R, 4ER, BB, 2K, HR
• Harper (W, 1-0) 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 0K
• Glover (SV, 1) 1IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 1K
• Soto 3-5, R, HR, 6RBI
• Collier 2-4, 3R, BB, RBI
• Difo 2-5, R, 2SB

Neftali Soto drove in six runs, including an Earl Weaver special in the 7th that proved to be the game-winner, as Harrisburg outslugged Richmond, 7-6. Austen Williams came off the DL to start and gave up single runs in the 3rd and 5th before he was chased in the 6th by a two-run homer to the second batter of the inning. He finished with four runs let in on 10 hits and a walk over five-plus innings. Bryan Harper retired the next three batters in order and got the benefit of Soto’s three-run homer with a win. Soto led the Harrisburg hit column with a 3-for-5 night, followed veterans Cutter Dykstra and Zach Collier, who both went 2-for-4.
Roster move: Activated RHP Austen Williams from the 7-Day DL.

Carolina 4 Potomac 3 (10 inn.)
• Fedde 6⅓ IP, 6H, 3R, 2ER, BB, 4K
• Bacus (L, 0-1) 2⅔ IP, 3H, R, ER, 0BB, 4K
• Stevenson 2-4, R, 2SB
• Mejia 2-4, R, 2B

Potomac tied it in the 9th to force extras but lost in the 10th to Carolina, 4-3. Erick Fedde pitched into the 7th for the first time this season, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits and a walk while striking out four. He threw 95 pitches, 60 for strikes. Dakota Bacus took over and retired eight of nine batters before giving up a leadoff triple and the game-winning single in the 10th to take the loss. Andrew Stevenson and Bryan Mejia both went 2-for-4 to account for four of the eight P-Nats hits.

West Virginia 4 Hagerstown 3
• A. Lee 5IP, 2H, 3R, 0ER, 3BB, 3K
• Crownover (L, 3-1) 3⅓ IP, 3H, R, ER, IBB, 5K, HBP
• Robles 2-5
• Gutierrez 2-4, R

The Suns also tied it late but lost in regulation, 4-3. Andrew Lee got yet another no-decision, charged with three unearned runs on two hits and three walks over five innings. Matthew Crownover wore the “L” despite pitching well (hey, that rhymes!) for three innings before giving up the game-winner on a single-HBP-SAC-single sequence in the 9th. The southpaw reliever struck out five of the first ten batters he faced. Victor Robles and Kelvin Gutierrez both singled twice as Hagerstown was held to just six hits and three walks (two by Ian Sagdal, who scored twice).

13 Commments

  1. Voth shows yet again that he’s probably the most major-league-ready starter in the Nats’ system. But he seems to be blocked unless a starter gets hurt. He’s also not on the 40-man. There’s that second game of the big club’s double-header this coming Saturday . . . although Voth would be on three days rest and not on the 40-man. (Neither is Giolito, who would be on four days rest.)

    Fedde turned in what I think is his best start above Auburn, still not dominant, but better. Austen Williams still seems overmatched at AA. And A. Lee and Crownover continue to post very strong outings at Hagerstown. Lee’s ERA is 1.54 and Crownover’s is 1.44.

    Wiseman now has hits in six of his last seven games, which I hope means he is starting to figure things out.

    1. The 26th player that the Nats are allowed to activate for Saturday’s double-header does not have to be a starting pitcher. It can be any player on the 40 (even a position player). The Nats have off-days on Thursday and Monday; so, they can stick with their current 5 man rotation and pitch everyone on standard 4 days (or more) rest. My guess is that it what Dusty will want to do against the Marlins (who also have Thursday off).

      Rather than bring up Voth (no chance they pitch him on short rest) or Giolito, I could see the Nats bringing up a relief pitcher to give them a fresh arm and additional strategy options for the doubleheader. Would guess that it will be either Martin or Gott who comes up for Saturday.

      1. Good thoughts on the Nats keeping the rotation in other. The other could be that Petit could start the second game, although he’s been so valuable as a true long man that Dusty might hesitate to burn him in that manner. Martin has a 4.61 ERA, so it’s hard to see him getting the call. Gott gave up another run last night. I really, really had high hopes for him with the big club this year, but it seems that he has yet to get a handle on things. The most effective Nat reliever in the upper minors has been Erik Davis . . . who of course is the one guy they dropped from the 40-man! Grace has also been very good, and he is on the 40-man, if they need four lefties for some reason. Jordan has had a good start but is on the DL.

        Or maybe they bring up Trea for a cameo.

        1. Martin’s ERA is not an accurate indicator as to how he has pitched.

          He has appeared in 13 games and given up 0 runs in 10 appearances, a single run in two, and then he had one bad blown save on April 20 when he gave up 4 runs in 2/3 of an inning. Martin has a string of 7 straight scoreless appearances going.

          Martin also has 19Ks in 13 innings, and has a 6 out 7 save percentage. No chance that the Nats make a 40 man roster move to call up a player for a single game. The Nats are going to save those moves for those times when a player is likely to stay on the active roster for an extended period.

  2. I think the clubs are due for a roster shuffle the end of the month.

    Marmolejos is well over due for a promotion, and Harrisburg is well over due for a firstbaseman (Pleffner is hitting .159/.222/.168 and turns 27 soon. the writing is on the wall…)

    Ward is also due, having played the entirety of 2015 in A+. Soto’s performance last night was impressive, but at his age shouldn’t pose much of an obstacle to Ward’s promotion.

    Lee has earned a promotion to Potomac (Whiting looks to be the odd man out).

    The Nats need to make a decision about what they think of Mejia, as both Sagdal and Davidson have outperformed Mejia this season. Plus, due to their advanced ages, the Nats need to be more aggressive with their development, than they should be with Shrock, who’s also earned a promotion, but could benefit from a whole season in Hagerstown.

    There’s a bunch of others that have performed very well this year (Robles, Schrock, Gutierrez, Stevenson, Avila, etc.), but I see these guys listed above as the “low hanging fruit”, i.e. due to a combination of their age and a lack of viable alternatives in the level above them, that could be easily promoted a level.

    1. Question remains who plays 1b for keister??
      Possibly move Ward to 1b ? Promote davidson??
      DeBruin done being in XST with Wooten ??

  4. It’s obviously impossible to avoid the speculation about promotions, although some players do force this issue. A few thoughts.

    As much as we have reason for excitement, there are few obvious candidates, and there are mirages. Obviously Trea Turner will be up in DC by June, even if he gets a slump here or there. What bears watching is Brian Goodwin’s power and whether it is a blip or a trend in a player long hampered by a shoulder injury that nearly killed his career. He has always been a patient hitter who strikes out a lot. Unclear whether he has a future in DC or elsewhere, but he is evolving into a major leaguer and a fast riser. But there is nowhere for him to be promoted yet…

    Wilmer Difo has started to turn on his basestealing. Makes one wonder whether it reflects the fuller healing of his finger and how that will translate otherwise in his game. With Ryan out of the system and Turner headed to DC soon, there is a path forward for him. And perhaps, then a path for Stephen Perez to get more PT and reinvigorate his career at AA after last year’s flop.

    I don’t expect a fast promotion of Ward. He struggled in the AFL and it’s still early in the year. he is young and there is no rush, unless he continues to improve and transcend his league. I also think Marmolejos has more to prove at A+ and do not anticipate his fast rise, either.

    Hagerstown, more than any other level, has talent pushing upward. I feel like Schrock is a big time prospect waiting to happen, and I think he’ll be the first one to Potomac. But it’s WAY to soon to get impatient with Mejia’s offense. he’s hitting nearly .300 in his last 13 games and has a big bat in an organization that is offense poor. No need to rush, and Schrock has some versatility. Robles, per earlier thread, is blocked in CF. Ian Sagdal is old for his level and may get a quicker bump if he keeps producing as he has.

    Andrew Lee is making his case as well as any starting pitcher to get a bump up. I’ve got an eye on Phillips Valdez as well. But otherwise (save for this Saturday), I can’t see any sustained promotions coming without an injury, and before Turner gets pushed up.

    An aside on Martin. His ERA is deceiving. He had one putrid outing and in 13 games, has given up runs only three times. He strikes folks out. I’ve been a fan of his for awhile, and I’m still hoping he gets a chance.

    1. Always interesting to see how the mock drafts
      Shift in the weeks before the actual draft .
      Nats mock goes from Sac town prepster
      And kieboom kin to two RH arms .
      Never have enough pitching in the farm
      Draft 18 or so arms to find 2…..

    2. Valdez 27. Never knew he was ex Ray and Indian
      Until reading BA prospect handbook. Gil

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