The IronPigs have returned from Rochester in the North, ready to face the Red Sox affiliate. Woo.
Looking Back
The ‘Pigs left the Lehigh Valley for the road following a 5-1 series win at home versus Columbus (AAA-CLE). On the road in Rochester (AAA-WSH) they took the series 4-2 and had a bit of a wild time doing it. There was a 19-1 beat down by the ‘Pigs in the opening game of the series. There was a 15-14 extra-innings affair which Rochester won after having lead the game 8-1 at one point. There was a rain out. There was a 13-1 win in a 7-inning game and another shortened game which went to extra innings and was won by the home team.
The IronPigs are now 23-10 and remain in first place in the league-wide standings. Jacksonville has faded, having lost 6 in a row. Don’t look now, but Durham, always near the top of the standings, is on a 7-game tear and is closest to the top at 1.0 games back. In the West, Memphis is now closest, at 3.0 games back. The IronPigs have scored 207 runs, which is 30 more than the closest competitor. They have a +65 run differential after 33 games.
This week:
IronPigs are home for 5th-place Worcester (AAA-BOS)
Durham (AAA-TBR) is home for last-place Gwinnett (AAA-ATL)
Memphis (AAA-STL) is on the road versus middling Eastern Division team Charlotte (AAA-CWS)
About Worcester
The Red Sox affiliate comes in having just closed out a series at home with Toledo (AAA-DET) where they lost four of the six games. They are 16-16 and tied for fourth place in the International League East with Scranton (AAA-NYY), 6.5 games behind the first-place IronPigs.
Red Sox Prospects
#1 Prospect: OF Roman Anthony
#3 Prospect: INF Marcelo Mayer
#27 Prospect: RHP Luis Guerrero
Notes and Notables: Many of the guys who were on this team plaguing us last season have been promoted to the Majors. Anthony remaining, of course, for now. I’ve never been that impressed with Mayer, watching him at Double-A, but he did hit .307 last season and has a .826 OPS this season, his first in Triple-A. Veteran catcher Yasmani Grandal is on this team. He spent most of last season with the Pirates. This team is carrying four active catchers plus one on the 7-day Injured List. INF Nick Sogard always seems to play well against us.
Worcester Rotation
We’ll get some official probables on Tuesday morning. This team has used a plethora of MLB-caliber starters on rehab, or following a trade, or prior to a trade. Mapping out their rotation, therefore, is sketchy at best. This is what it looks like right now:
Tuesday: RHP Josh Winckowski
Wednesday: LHP Shane Drohan
Thursday: RHP Cooper Criswell
Friday: RHP Brian Van Belle
Saturday: RHP Robert Stock
Sunday: RHP Josh Winckowski
IronPigs Rotation
Tuesday: RHP Nabil Crismatt
Wednesday: RHP Kyle Tyler
Thursday: RHP Andrew Painter*
Friday: RHP Alan Rangel
Saturday: RHP Mick Abel
Sunday: RHP Nabil Crismatt
* Many sources have Painter making his regular Thursday start for us this week. Do Not expect him to go deep in the game–3 innings, 4 if we’re lucky. Maybe less based on pitch count. I wouldn’t rule out a piggy-back situation with another starter but we have a LOT of relievers (Who Are They? How Are They Doing?) and not a ton of extra starters, so we should be able to cover the innings in a shortened Painter outing without much difficulty.
These probables will be updated with more official information going forward.
IronPigs Roster: Transactions
4/28: RHP Jose Cuas to the Dev List
4/29: INF Christian Arroyo activated from the IL
5/1: RHP Daniel Robert traded to Philadelphia and optioned to Lehigh Valley (more HERE)
5/1: RHP Jose Cuas Released
5/2: C Payton Henry sent on rehab assignment to Hi-A Jersey Shore
5/3: LHP Ranger Suarez and OF Brandon Marsh return to Philadelphia from Rehab
5/2: OF Cal Stevenson optioned from Philadelphia
5/2: LHP Nick Vespi to the Dev List
Printable Roster: 050425 LHV Roster
What’s Going On At The Park This Week?
Tuesday: Education Day. 11:00AM Game. 9:45AM Gates. 9:30AM Club.
Wednesday: Tacos and Tallboys. Stroke Awareness Night.
Thursday: Twisted Thursday Happy Hour. Scrub Jersey Giveaway (Adults). Healthcare Education Night. Jewish Heritage Night: Special Food in the Plaza. Dance Night: Pre-game performance.
Friday: Star Wars Night. Fireworks. Salisbury Youth Night. (hockey)
Saturday: Cap Giveaway. Forged By Fire Night. Salute To Steelworkers. Fireworks. Dance Night: Pre-game performance.
Sunday: Mother’s Day. Cap Giveaway (women). Post-game kids run the bases. Moms on the field. Lunch at the Picnic Patio is still available. Club Level Buffet appears to be sold out.
Weather This Week
Dodging rain showers Tuesday. Thursday and Friday also have showers in the forecast; we’ll have to see about timing. Saturday and Sunday look really nice.
What Else Is New?
The Steelworkers gear for the Saturday promotion is HERE.
Advanced: Steelworkers night is Saturday. Maybe check out that free giveaway hat before buying the merch one.
The ‘Salute To Lehigh Valley’ is “Lehigh Valley Traffic” Get your merch HERE
This is my favorite iteration of the Friday Faux-back cap: HERE. They’re calling it the Holiday cap, but it’s the same red as Friday, except with the normal pig head logo instead of the goofy faux-back one.
The Cosmic Takeover Tour of glow-in-the-dark baseball is coming up later this month. I’m not sure where we stand with tickets and lottery and luxury areas and the like. There’s also A VIP option, I heard, but that’s in addition to tickets. Suites, PicNic Area, and groups are sold by the IronPigs, other individual seats directly from the tour.
The Banana Ball Tour of the Party Animals is coming on July 5-6. Same deal with the lottery and the group areas and such.
IronPigs Today – Tuesday
Education Day!
11:00AM Game Time. 9:45AM Gates (Main/East and Center Field). 9:30AM Club/West.
This game will likely sell out. Avoid field level and the main concourse if you can.
Unofficial Probables:
IronPigs RHP Nabil Crismatt (3-1, 2.73) versus Woo Sox RHP Josh Winckowski (0-1, 4.09)
Weather: Overnight showers will give way to a window around game time. There may be some clearing in the afternoon as well. Temps in the low 70s. Breezy.
What’s Next?
The ‘Pigs are on the road up in Syracuse next week, before returning the following week for Buffalo (AAA-TOR). That Buffalo series features another Tuesday Education Day, as well as a Sunday evening fireworks game for Memorial Day.
Check back for “IronPigs Today” each game day this week.
See you at the park,
@Kram207
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