Wednesday’s News & Notes
| Team | Yesterday | Today | Pitching Probables |
| Rochester | Won, 3-1 (Wait. What?) |
@ Lehigh Valley, 6:45pm | Sampson (1-2, 5.97) vs. Mosser (2-1, 5.02) |
| Harrisburg | Won, 7-3 | vs. Binghamton, 6:30pm | Conley (1-3, 2.87) vs. Wenninger (6-3, 2.93) |
| Wilmington | Lost, 6-3 | vs. Asheville, 6:35pm | Sykora (2-0, 1.00) vs. Gillis (3-2, 2.66) |
| Fredericksburg | Cancelled | @ Salem, 5:05pm | Roman (1-4, 9.00) and B. Romero (2-1, 2.25) vs. Cohen (2-1, 3.86) and Gartrell (0-1, 4.91) |
| FCL Nationals | OFF DAY | vs. FCL Astros, 12pm | |
| DSL Nationals | Won, 6-5 | OFF DAY |
Rochester 3 Lehigh Valley 1
• Alvarez 5IP, 4H, 1R, 1ER, 4BB, 4K
• Adon (W, 1-2) 2IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 5K
• Pilkington (SV, 1) 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 1K
• Schnell 1-3, R, HR, RBI
• Pinckney 1-4, R, 2SB(16)
The Red Wings got four perfect innings from the bullpen, enabling them to snap a 12-game losing streak, 3-1. It was the first time Rochester has won this season while scoring less than four runs. Andrew Alvarez gave up that run on four hits and four walks over five innings, which should have been good enough to win… but was not as he left in a 1-1 tie. The “W” went to Joan Adon with six-up-and-six-down, five by way of the K. Nick Schnell homered to take the lead while Andrew Pinckney singled, stole second, and scored ahead of Nasim Nuñez’s RBI single for the third and final Red Wings run. Carlos Romero pitched the 8th for the hold, Konnor Pilkington worked a 1-2-3 ninth for the save. Roster moves: RHP Michael Cuevas promoted from Harrisburg.
Harrisburg 7 Binghamton 3
• Stuart (W, 1-1) 5⅔ IP, 6H, 1R, 1ER, 2BB, 6K, 2WP
• Davila (H, 7) 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Thomas 2-3, R, BB, 2B, SB(5)
• Stehly 2-4, R, 2B(5), 2RBI
• Glasser 3-5, 2R, RBI, 2K
Harrisburg led from start to finish to take the series opener, 7-3. Tyler Stuart pitched into the 6th for the first time in ’25, giving up one run on six hits, walking two, and striking out six. Philip Glasser singled three times and scored twice, Johnathon Thomas reached base three times on a walk, double, and a single, and Murphy Stehly singled, doubled, and stole home on a double steal with Kevin Made to highlight the Senators offense. Roster moves: RHP Samuel Vasquez promoted from Wilmington; 3B Paul DeJong assigned from Washington for MLB Rehab.
Asheville 6 Wilmington 3
• Sthele (L, 3-3) 5IP, 8H, 4R, 4ER, 1BB, 6K, HR
• Cáceres 2IP, 0H, 1R, 0ER, 2BB, 0K
• Brown 2-3, R, BB, CS
• White 1-2, R, BB, GIDP
The Blue Rocks’ seven-game win streak was halted as the Tourists doubled ’em up, 6-3. Travis “Sunday” Sthele gave up four runs on eight hits (one HR) over five innings. He walked one and struck out three while taking his third loss. Caleb Lomavita’s 10th double was Wilmington’s sole extra-base hit while Marcus Brown had two of the six singles on the night for the Blue Rocks.
Fredericksburg vs. Salem – CNCLD
The field was deemed unplayable prior to yesterday’s series opener between Fredericksburg and Salem. Despite both teams being out of contention, they’ll still shoot to play two this afternoon, weather permitting.
DSL Nationals 5 DSL Cardinals 4
• M. De La Cruz 5IP, 5H, 3R, 1ER, 1BB, 6K, HBP, WP
• Torelles (BS, 1; W, 1-0) 1IP, 2H, 1R, 1ER, 1BB, 0K, WP
• Jo. Sanchez (SV, 1) 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 0K
• D. Hernandez 3-4, 2R, 2-2B
• Bello 2-3, 2B, 3B, 2RBI
• Obispo 1-3, R, 2RBI, SAC
The D-Nats blew leads of 3-1 and 4-3 before pushing across a fifth run in the 6th and the ‘pen holding it for a 5-4 win. 19-y.o. Marlon De La Cruz went the first five and allowed three runs (one earned) on five hits and a walk while striking out six for the no-decision. 18-y.o. Yaiker Torrelles got the (dreaded) blown-save win with a run let in on two hits and a walk over a single inning pitched. 19-y.o. Jose Sanchez retired the side in order in the 9th for the save, his first.
Whose recent promotion has been more disappointing – King or Morales?
King is hitting a lame .192/.218/.269 in his first 12 games in AA.
While Morales is hitting a lame .179/.256/.244 in 20 games in AAA.
What gives me hope is that through King’s first 12 games in A+ to start this season he hit .152/.220/.174 before finding a better rhythm. But what has me worried about King is his inability to take a walk this season. Across both A+ and AA, his BB% sits at 4.4% (and is pretty stable between A+ at 4.6% and AA at 3.6%). That will need to change.
What gives me hope about Morales is that even in spite of his struggles at AAA, he still has a positive line on the season. But what worries me is that he’s making terrible contact (when he does make contact). He’s got a 67% groundball rate, and is striking out 33% of the time. That’s all the criticisms of last season taken to a new level.
Hope they can both turn things around.
Interesting that DeJong is back for rehab… if they knew he wasn’t far off from returning, why burn a 40 man roster spot and an option on House? Why not just wait a week and send down Tena then?
Who are they going to DFA/demote after DeJong’s rehab (which shouldn’t be that long since he’s returning from a broken nose and not a muscular/tendon injury that might require more care)?
unless Chapparo starts hitting I could see DeJong in his roster spot.
DeJong’s value is linked solely to his glove. Since 2022, he has a line of .205/.262/.367, including .204/.246/.278 this year, which is barely better than Chaparro’s 3 game sample of .125/.222/.250 (and a good margin worse than Chaparro’s career line of .209/.277/.403). If you move DeJong off 3B (or SS), he’s somehow a worse version of 2025 Josh Bell.
So do you move House off 3B? Abrams off SS to give DeJong a chance to generate some value with his good glove? That would be a bold choice!
You could also just use Dejong in the super-utility role, but he’s never really played 2B, which is where we need the most help. But then what’s the point of Amed Rosario at that point? Do you designate him, our only infielder beside Abrams batting above average this season, for assignment to make room for DeJong? Do you finally get rid of Bell? If so, the question still remains of where/how you use DeJong with House and Abrams occupying his position… I don’t get what they’re planning.
DeJong was signed for his ability to hit home runs, the glove was a bonus. he didn’t find that groove before getting hit but if he is to have a role he will have to recapture it. he will be waived before he moves House off third
House is playing 3B everyday unless he goes into a Hassell III type of tailspin.
Agree that the most likely move is that Chaparro goes back to Rochester. Also, possible the Nats release Josh Bell or DeJong. DeJong is making $1 million this year (Bell $6 million); so, dumping him would be easier as the Nats’ made little investment to sign him.
FWIW, with Nasim Nunez in AAA; the current roster really doesn’t have anyone that can play SS, outside of CJ. Amed Rosario hasn’t played SS since 2023, and he was about the worst defensive SS in the game then. OTOH, DeJong has been primarily a SS throughout his career including last year for the CWS.
Ok I’m running this flag up the pole :
Which comes first ?
Managerial change or Elijah Green getting his pink slip from the vaudeville act we do in reaction to his lack of contact
4-4 today ! Whiffs !
Quite the Lunar eclipse lately in FCL Nats RHP.
Snarkle , Luke
My guess as to what happens:
Brady House plays every day at 3B. If they blow an option on him and send him back to AAA once PDJ is finished rehabbing, MLB should move the team.
Rosario is the back-up 2B (he’s started seven games there this year).
PDJ is the back-up SS and 3B.
Rosario and PDJ split time at the RH complement at DH to Josh Bell.
Chapparo is sent down.
I’d personally designate Bell, but I don’t see Rizzo doing that.
Agree with all of this.
As for Rosario at 2B, Rosario’s glove is a problem wherever he plays, but Luis Garcia Jr. has become a complete disaster at 2B. IIRC, in defensive outs saved, Garcia is the worst regular defensive player in MLB. That’s not just at 2B, but at any position. That’s saying something.
So, giving Rosario some run at 2B doesn’t lead to a defensive drop-off that it does at any other place on the diamond. FWIW, while the horrible bullpen and the inconsistent/regressing offense gets most of the attention for the Nats predicament, defense (or lack thereof) plays a big role. Other than when Jacob Young plays CF, the Nats have a below average defensive player at every position, and some (Keibert and Luis Garcia) are among the worst in the sport. Unexpectedly good MLB teams almost always are the top defensive teams. Disappointing teams are more often teams that play poor defense.
House appears to the exception among the Nats’ top prospects with the potential for above average and possibly elite glove.
It would be malpractice for House to not play every day. As for the rest, just flip a coin over who to release. The Nats have just lost a series to a team with the worst record in baseball history, so there are a lot of guys who should be staring at the career graveyard.
Among reserve options, Lipscomb does have SS capability, although he’s not exactly tearing it up at AAA.
Chris you have me wanting to go make a PBJ sandwich
Wait , Chris , the idiot Rays owner has first dibs on commish attention .
Juan Yepez cleared waivers and returned to Rochester.
Elijah Green went 0-4 today with 4 Ks. What’s even crazier is that he saw exactly 12 pitches on those 4 at bats. Unreal how lost he is.
while the box score is undoubtedly correct the pitch by pitch diagrams cannot be trusted. if you scan the at bats you will see an unusual number of one pitch outs and four pitch walks as well as three pitch strikeouts. if you were at the game and witnessed this then I’ll agree with your assessment.
2024 #10 pick Luke Johnson gets bumped to FredNats for the start today.