Scheduled starters for tonight’s contests ...
Phillies ( 18-15 ) vs Atlanta ( 15-17 ) in Atlanta - 7:20 PM
RH Chase Anderson ( 2-1 ... 3.27 ERA )
Triple A East League - Lehigh Valley (3-1 ) vs Rochester ( 1-3 ) in Allentown- 6:35 PM
TBD however LH Christopher Sanchez was originally scheduled to start this game ... he was called up to the Phillies on 5/3 but optioned back to Lehigh in time for Tuesday’s Iron Pigs opener in which he pitched two perfect innings of relief. The 24 year old threw in the 94-96 range on Monday with the FB. He was acquired from the Tampa Rays in a 11/20/19 trade for infielder Curtis Mead.
Double A NorthEast League - Reading (1-3 ) vs Erie ( 3-1 ) in Reading - 6:45 PM
RH Mark Appel returns to make his first professional game appearance since September 2nd, 2017 when he appeared in a Gulf Coast League game in Dunedin, Florida. Mark retired shortly thereafter but is now attempting a comeback at age 29. He was popping the mitt in the mid nineties in minor league camp.
Scheduled to follow Appel on the hill is LH Taylor Lehman who is 25 years old. He played collegiate baseball at Penn State University and last appeared in a pro game in 2019 when he finished the season with Low A Lakewood posting a 2.78 ERA in 32 1/3 IP. Taylor generally sits in the 90-93 mph range with his FB and features good command and an arsenal of off speed deliveries.
High A East League - Jersey Shore ( 3-1 ) vs Hudson Valley ( 1-3 ) in Lakewood - 4:05 PM
RH Jack Perkins is slated to make his season debut. The 23 year old was selected in the 11th round of the 2018 draft from Stetson. He’s seen limited action thus far in his professional career ( 59 1/3 IP ) due to some injury set backs. Jack finished the 2019 season with Clearwater at the High A level where he posted a 5.05 ERA in 20 IP. I remember seeing him throw on the backfields in a rehab assignment that summer, features solid breaking pitches and is generally a strike thrower.
Low A SouthEast League - Clearwater ( 2-2 ) vs Lakeland ( 2-2 ) in Clearwater - 6:30 PM
LH Jordi Martinez makes his full season debut. We saw the 20 year old briefly in 2019 GCL play and later that year in Fall Instructs. His stuff can be electric, capable of being a high velocity arm and has plus secondary pitches. Excited to see him pitch both tonight and this season.
RH Rodolfo Sanchez is slated to follow Martinez in the piggyback tandem. The 21 year old was acquired from the Tampa Rays on 11/5/20 to complete the Edgar Garcia trade. We saw him briefly this year in Minor League Camp where he showed good command of his pitches and swing and miss capabilities ... statistically that’s been reflected to date in his minor league career ( 160 IP - 154 K’s & 47 BB - 3.03 ERA )
Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️