Stay up-to-date with all team and player news and notes all season long. Go 'Pigs!
LAST TIME OUT: The IronPigs fell 3-1 in an old fashioned pitcher's duel on Thursday night, dropping their elimination number to one (coupled with Durham's win over Gwinnett). Niko Kavadas homered to open the scoring for the WooSox and Corey Rosier doubled the lead to 2-0 with an RBI single in the fifth. A Matt Kroon sac fly cut the deficit to one in the sixth for the 'Pigs, but Worcester got an insurance run in the ninth on a Tyler Dearden RBI single. The two hits is the lowest output for the IronPigs this season since the WooSix two-hit them back on June 21. The IronPigs drew nine walks, but hit into two double plays and were caught stealing twice.
TODAY’S OPPONENT: Brandon Walter is handed the ball for the WooSox on Friday. Walter returns to Worcester after making three outings for Boston (8.1IP, 11R). In his past 25.1 innings at the triple-A level, Walter posted a 1.42 ERA in 25.1 innings. He's only faced Lehigh Valley once this season, back on May 19 when he took the loss, allowing five runs (two earned) in five innings, striking out nine. Walter is a local product out of the University of Delaware.
PLAYOFF PICTURE: With three games remaining, the IronPigs route to the postseason has become clearer but considerably narrower. Contrary to popular belief, the IronPigs hold the tiebreak over Durham as the head-to-head meeting back in April (a first half series) is not considered head-to-head for the second half tiebreaker. Thus, if the 'Pigs manage to tie Durham, they would win the tiebreak by virtue of a better record in their past 22 games. Three games back with three to go, the IronPigs must win out while Durham must lose out. The IronPigs elimination is one.
ORION'S CONSTELLATION PRIZE: In his first week with the IronPigs (and fourth level this season) Orion Kerkering pitched a scoreless inning, striking out one to earn the win on Wednesday. Afterwards he was bestowed with multiple awards as Baseball America named him the Phillies Minor League Player of the Year and the Phillies named Kerkering a 2023 Paul Owens Award Winner (Phillies top minor league pitcher). Kerkering, 22, is 4-1 with 14 saves, a 1.51 ERA (9 ER, 53.2 IP) and 0.89 WHIP across 49 relief appearances.
WALK(ER) IT LIKE I TALK IT: Jeremy Walker has been a stalwart out of the bullpen this season and is coming in hot for the stretch run. He's worked 8.2 consecutive scoreless innings over six appearances dating back to August 29, allowing just five hits and a walk total.
THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE KODY GHOST: Kody Clemens has dialed up another hot streak, homering four times in Rochester, going 6-for-19 in the series. Stretching even further back, in his past 20 games, Clemens has posted a 1.008 OPS with eight homers and 15 of his 24 hits during that timeframe have gone for extra bases.
KROONING FOR YOU: Matt Kroon ran out a 13-game hitting streak to start his IronPigs career, seeing it conclude on Thursday night. He's still reached base in all 14 games he has played for the 'Pigs. He has multiple hits in eight of 14 games as well. Kroon began his tenure with the 'Pigs, homering on his first swing and going 6-for-9 with a homer and three doubles before a hamstring injury sidelined him for a month. He drove in two (including the GW HR) on Tuesday and then socked a three-run triple on Wednesday.
MARCH(AN) OF THE PENGUINS: Rafael Marchan missed the first third of the season rehabbing from a broken hamate, but has made up for lost time of late. In his past 22 games, Marchan has slashed .359/.464/.577 for a 1.041 OPS with 10 doubles, two triples, a homer, and 20 RBI. 30-30 RACK: Having already put his fingerprints all over the IronPigs record book (most single-season homers and runs, first 20-20 season), Weston Wilson etched his name in there again, this time by swiping his 30th bag of the season on Sunday, giving him the first 30-30 season in IronPigs history.
GAR-SEE YA LATER: After a week-long dev list stint for the birth of his first child back in August, Aramis Garcia has returned with full on dad strength. He clubbed a two homer game on August 18, his first since June 27, 2018 when he was with double-A Richmond. In his very next start on August 20, Garcia smacked another multi-homer game. Even prior to the week off, Garcia was playing his best baseball of the season and that has continued, as in his last 30 games Garcia has smacked 11 homers and eight doubles, slashing .319/.358/.681 with 29 RBI.
HALL PASS: Currently on an eight-game hitting streak, Darick Hall is vying to finish the year with an average over .300 for the first time in his career. Since August 1, Hall has hit .310 with 15 homers, driving in 39 in 44 games.
EVEN STEVENSON: Cal Stevenson has got his feet underneath him after a whirlwind of transactions earlier in the season (traded twice, DFA'd twice). Since July 22, he's hit all eight of his homers on the season and has slashed .343/.489/.616 with 25 RBI. He's punched out just 26 times while walking 30 times. Stevenson tied a franchise record by walking four times on Wednesday night.