Four games on the schedule tonight, including an interesting pitching match-up in Indianapolis. Check out the Prospect Watch from last night. For a look at possible starters down the line, check out our Probable Starter Chart. All minor league transactions over the last month can be found at the bottom of the page. Click the link on each pitcher’s name for more information.
AAA: Indianapolis (29-21) vs Buffalo (26-21) 7:05pm
Probable starter: Jeff Locke (2-1, 3.92)
Yesterday’s Result: Buffalo 6, Indianapolis 2
Jeff Locke will make his eighth start for Indianapolis tonight. He has also pitched once for Bradenton and once for the Pittsburgh Pirates. For Indianapolis, Locke has thrown a total of 39 innings, allowing 36 hits, five homers and 15 walks. He has 31 strikeouts, a 1.70 GO/AO ratio and a .245 BAA. In his last start, Locke gave up three runs on five hits and five walks in six innings. He threw seven shutout innings in his prior start, allowing just one hit. The opposing pitcher tonight is Ricky Romero, who was an AL All-Star in 2011. Locke was named to the National League team last year.
AA: Altoona (20-30) @ Richmond (24-24) 6:35pm
Probable starter: A.J. Morris (5-0, 1.43)
Yesterday’s Result: Erie 4, Altoona 3
A.J. Morris will make his seventh start of the season tonight. He has also pitched five times in relief. Morris was a fourth round pick in 2009 and missed all of the 2011 season due to shoulder surgery. When he returned in 2012, he had an excellent season out of the bullpen for Daytona in the FSL. He moved up to AA and started ten games last year, to go along with 21 relief appearances. The results were average at best, with the highlight being a 2.35 GO/AO ratio. This season, he has been dominant, especially in the starting role where he has a 1.34 ERA in 33.2 innings. Morris has a .179 BAA, 0.93 WHIP and a 2.13 GO/AO ratio. He has been tough on right-handed batters, holding them to a .121 average. He has an 0.69 ERA at home. Morris is the Eastern League leader in both ERA and WHIP.
High-A: Bradenton (24-26) @ Tampa (26-23) 7:00pm
Probable starter: Jason Creasy (2-2, 3.86)
Yesterday’s Result: Bradenton was off yesterday
Jason Creasy will make his 11th start of the season tonight, the first pitcher in the Pirates system to reach that mark. He has thrown a total of 44.1 innings, allowing 46 hits, three homers and ten walks. He has 31 strikeouts, an 0.94 GO/AO ratio and a .269 BAA. In his last start, Creasy gave up one run on five hits and no walks in five innings. He has given up two runs or less in seven of his starts. Creasy is holding left-handed batters to a .227 BAA with no homers.
Low-A: West Virginia (18-32) @ Rome (14-36) 7:00pm
Probable starter: Cody Dickson (2-6, 5.45)
Yesterday’s Result: West Virginia 14, Rome 6
Cody Dickson will make his tenth start of the season tonight. He has thrown a total of 39.2 innings, allowing 51 hits, five homers and 19 walks. He has 29 strikeouts, a 1.00 GO/AO ratio and a .319 BAA. Dickson was hit hard in his last outing, giving up nine runs on seven hits and three walks in 1.1 innings. On the road this year, he has a 3.38 ERA in five starts. His home ERA is 8.62, while batters are hitting .405 against him in West Virginia.
Recent Transactions
5/26: Ralph Henriquez sent from Indianapolis to Altoona. Cody Eppley assigned to Indianapolis.
5/24: Andy Otamendi assigned to Extended Spring Training. Orlando Castro assigned to Bradenton.
5/23 Tony Sanchez assigned to Indianapolis.
5/23: Josh Wall assigned to Indianapolis roster.
5/22: Edwin Espinal activated from disabled list. Candon Myles placed on disabled list.
5/21: Andy Otamendi added to Bradenton roster. Orlando Castro assigned to Jamestown.
5/20: Omir Santos placed on disabled list. Ralph Henriquez assigned to Indianapolis.
5/19: Jared LaKind added to West Virginia roster. Will Kendall placed on disabled list.
5/19: Brandon Cumpton reassigned to Indianapolis. Ralph Henriquez sent from Indianapolis to Altoona
5/18: West Virginia sends Kawika Emsley-Pai to Altoona. Francisco Diaz added off Jamestown roster.
5/18: Ralph Henriquez sent from Altoona to Indianapolis.
5/16: Edwin Espinal placed on disabled list. Adam Landecker added to West Virginia roster.
5/16: Jaff Decker sent from Pittsburgh to Indianapolis. Cody Eppley transferred to Jamestown roster.
5/13: Activated Zack Dodson from disabled list. Ryan Beckman transferred to Jamestown roster.
5/12: Signed Nathan Sopena.
5/12: Released Christian Santiago, Arquimedes Lorenzo, Ramon Rodriguez and Marcus Beltrez.
5/9: Miguel Rosario added to West Virginia roster. Jerry Mulderig assigned to Jamestown roster.
5/9: Kenn Kasparek assigned to Jamestown roster.
5/8: Harold Ramirez activated from disabled list. Michael Fransoso assigned to Jamestown roster.
5/8: Matt Curry activated from disabled list and assigned to Altoona.
5/7: Andrew Lambo placed on disabled list.
5/6: Jeff Locke assigned to Indianapolis. Phil Irwin promoted to majors.
5/6: Vance Worley added to Indianapolis roster.
5/5: Duke Welker placed on disabled list. Adalberto Santos assigned to Indianapolis roster.
5/5: Jeff Locke promoted to Pirates. Casey Sadler assigned to Indianapolis.
5/4: Jose Osuna placed on disabled list. D.J. Crumlich added to Bradenton roster.
5/4: Kenn Kasparek promoted to Indianapolis.
5/3: Cody Eppley assigned in Indianapolis roster.
5/3: Reese McGuire activated from disabled list. Francisco Diaz assigned to Jamestown roster.
5/2: Benji Gonzalez traded to San Diego Padres.
5/2: Kenn Kasparek activated from Altoona disabled list. Carlos Paulino placed on disabled list.
5/2: Jordan Steranka placed on disabled list. Taylor Lewis added to Bradenton roster.
5/1: Robert Andino activated from Indianapolis disabled list. Adalberto Santos assigned to Jamestown roster.
5/1: Wandy Rodriguez assigned to Altoona roster on rehab.
4/30 Elvis Escobar added to West Virginia roster. Adam Landecker assigned to Jamestown roster.
4/29: Cody Eppley transferred to Jamestown roster.
4/29: Ralph Henriquez added to Altoona roster.
