For an in depth review of yesterday’s games please check out our minor league wrap-up which can be found here. Bradenton clinched a playoff spot by winning the 2nd half title with their win over Palm Beach last night. Please take note of the early start time for Indianapolis. They now list Jeff Locke as the starter for today’s game. He was originally listed as the starter for last night. West Virginia has off today.
AAA: Indianapolis (73-66) VS Toledo (65-74) 1:05pm
Probable starter: Jeff Locke (0-1 2.20)
Locke will make 4th start with Indianapolis today. He started the year with Altoona and went 7-9 4.03 in 125 innings with 114 strikeouts. Jeff allowed one run over 5 innings in his last start on Thursday. He threw 5.2 shutout innings in his first AAA start on 8/15. His 125 strikeouts rank 2nd to Kyle McPherson in the entire Pirates farm system and he is just 14 behind his career high set last year.
AA: Altoona (62-73) @ Bowie (72-63) 7:05pm
Probable starter: Phillip Irwin (7-4 4.42)
Irwin will take the mound for Altoona for the 14th time tonight. He made 10 starts for Bradenton and went 5-0 2.03 giving him a combined 12-4 3.43 record on the year. He has a 21/101 BB/K ratio which is slightly down from his 20/111 ratio he posted last year. In his last start, Phillip gave up 2 runs in 7 innings and picked up the win.
High-A: Bradenton (70-63 overall 40-23 2nd half) @ Palm Beach (64-69 overall 35-29 2nd half) 6:35pm
Probable starter: Brandon Cumpton (3-3 3.78)
Brandon will get his 12th start with Bradenton tonight. He also made 12 starts while with West Virginia. Combined between the two teams he has a 10-7 4.04 record with 30 walks and 89 strikeouts in 131.1 innings pitched. In his last start Brandon allowed just one run over 6 innings. In his prior start he allowed no earned runs over 5 innings but got a no decision.
Low-A: West Virginia (64-69 overall 28-36 2nd half) @ Delmarva (55-80 overall 20-45 2nd half) 7:05pm 9/1
Probable starter: Zack Dodson (5-4 2.77)
Dodson will make his 13th start with West Virginia and 20th overall start on the year tonight. He went 4 innings in his last start allowing 3 runs on 4 hits and a walk. He has a combined record of 5-6 3.27 with 61 strikeouts and 21 walks allowed in 88 innings. He has improved his walk ratio well over last year’s mark when he allowed 27 walks in just 57.2 innings.
Short Season A: State College (27-43) VS Batavia (35-34) 7:05pm
Probable starter: Michael Jefferson (2-3 4.89)
Jefferson will get his 7th start of the year tonight, he has also made 7 relief appearances. In 38.2 innings he has given up 35 hits, walked 14 and struck out 33. In his last start he went 5 innings, allowing 4 runs and he took his 2nd straight loss. As a starter he has a 4.56 ERA, as a reliever it is 5.40.
Rookie: GCL Pirates (34-26)
The GCL Pirates finished their season in 2nd place, 3 games back in the standings.
VSL: VSL Pirates (40-32)
The VSL Pirates have finished their season. They won the VSL pennant for a sixth straight year.
DSL: DSL Pirates (41-30)
The DSL Pirates finished tied for 2nd in their division, 5.5 games back.
