Here are your three fresh and stale prospects for the week, as well as a recap of a busy weekend down on the farm. So far it looks like the news on Homer Bailey is good, and hopefully he won't have to hit the DL, but if he is Lost for a while, who are the prime Candidates to take his spot?
Enerio Del Rosario
The Reds bullpen is hurting, and if they need to DL Homer Bailey, they'll probably call up a reliever for a few days to help out. EDR is the prime candidate for a callup, as he has been lights out for Louisville. He won't strike out a ton, but he's only allowed 4 walks in 24 innings of work, and he is a groundball machine. His ERA so far is 1.46. A reliever that throws strikes and gets a lot of grounders? Yes, please.
Travis Wood
Wood has had his ups and downs this year, but he has 3 things going for him if someone needs to take a start or two for Bailey. 1) He almost earned a rotation spot out of the spring, so the team is high on him. 2) He started yesterday, so Bailey's turn would fall on his normal day to pitch. 3) In said start, he threw 6 innings of 1 run ball, only allowing 4 hits. His ERA stands at 4.15, but he's only walked 17 and struck out 57 in 56 innings of work on the year.
Sam LeCure
Possibly the most deserving candidate to make some spot starts. His ERA on the year is 2.55 and he's coming off of a 1 hit, complete game shutout in his last start. He's been a workhorse for AAA the last couple years, so it's very possible the team rewards him with a spot start or two.
Juan Carlos Sulbaran
There is a ton of talent here of course, and JC is only 20 years old. Still, he's repeating low A ball, and isn't exactly tearing it up. In 36 innings he has allowed 52 baserunners and has a 5.00 ERA. I still think he'll be fine, but a great couple of months and a call-up to Lynchburg this summer would do wonders for his prospect stock.
Jordan Smith
When I first started paying attention to prospects, Smith was a guy who was thought of as having mid-rotation potential. This season, though, he's been moved to the bullpen and has struggled there. His ERA in 18.1 innings is 6.87, and he's only struck out 10 compared to 7 walks. He's also 24 and still toiling in AA.
Phillippe Valiquette
The hard throwing Canadian lefty is very talented, but has struggled with the walks this year and has also been very hittable. As a lefty who can bring the heat he'll be given every chance, but he needs to pick it up.
- Louisville had a great weekend. On Friday the Bats won 5-2 behind a strong start from Matt Maloney (6 IP, 2 ER) and 3 scoreless innings from the bullpen. Wladimir Balentien was 2-3 with 2 doubles and a walk, Chris Valaika was 2-4 with a double, and Corky Miller continued to defy expectations, going 2-4 and raising his average on the season to .326. Saturday belonged to Sam LeCure. Sam the Man threw a complete game, 1-hit shutout as the Bats won 5-0. LeCure had a no-hitter into the 8h inning. Michael Griffin, Drew Sutton, Chris Valaika, and Wilkin Castillo each had 2 hits. Sunday the Bats won 5-1 behind the aforementioned strong start from Travis Wood. Zack Cozart and Yonder Alonso each went 2-4, Wilkin Castillo went 2-4 with a homer and Todd Frazier was 2-4 with 2 homers. Hopefully today will get Todd going. Up Next: Justin Lehr should start against Scranton/WB at 11:05 a.m.
- Carolina didn't do so well. Friday Matt Klinker continued to deserve a promotion, throwing 7 innings, allowing only an unearned run and striking out 7, as the Mudcats won 6-3. Jake Kahaulelio was 2-4 with a walk, but it was team plate discipline that won this one. They scored their 6 runs on just 5 hits but 7 walks. Reports are that Dusty Baker is sending an investigator to find out why they are clogging the bases so much. On Saturday Carolina lost 4-3. Denis Phipps hit his first homer of the year, Dave Sappelt continued his hot hitting with a double, and Chris Denove was 2-3 with a double. On Sunday they lost a tough one 6-4. Tom Cochran gave them 5 shutout innings, and the team took a 4-1 lead into the bottom of the 9th. But Phillippe Valiquette and Jordan Smith combined to give up 5 runs in the inning to take the loss. Eric Eymann was 2-5, Denis Phipps was 3-5, and Dave Sappelt keeps on raking, going 2-3 with a walk. He's been hitting .368 since his promotion to AA. Up Next: Travis Webb takes on Chattanooga at 7:15.
- Lynchburg's hitters are enjoying the more friendly run environment of the Carolina league, but the pitchers certainly are not. On Friday they got creamed 13-3. Lots of guys gave up runs in this one. Alex Buchholz was 3-4, and Devin Mesoraco was 3-4 with a double. Saturday the pitching continued to struggle, as the Hillcats lost 11-4. At least Nick Christiani threw 3 shutout innings from the 'pen. The 'Cats left a ton of men on base, getting 14 hits but only scoring the 3 runs. Josh Fellhauer was 3-5 with 3 doubles, Cody Puckett was 3-5 with a double and his 5th homer, and Devin Mesoraco was 2-5 including his 9th homer of the year. Sunday the pitching woes continued as the 'Cats fell 7-3. Bradley Boxberger had a bit of a rough start, only lasting 3 2/3, giving up 4 earned runs. He did strike out 6 though. Neftali Soto was 2-4 with a double and his 6th home run on the year. Up Next: Lynchburg is off Monday.
- Dayton just plain sucked this weekend. Friday they fell 6-2. Josh Garton was 2-4, DiDi Gregorius, Alex Oliveras, and Shane Carlson each hit doubles. On Saturday Dayton lost 10-7 behind bad pitching all around. Josh Garton keeps raking, going 2-5 with a double. Frank Pfister was 3-4 with a double and a home run, and Chase Weems was 1-3 with a double and walk. Sunday saw Dayton fall 6-4. JC Sulbaran only lasted 5 innings, giving up 4 runs on 9 hits. Josh Garton keeps raking, going 2-4 with his 5th homer in only 69 ABs. Up Next: Josh Walker faces Bowling Green at 7:00.