Kevin Goldstein identified Tyler Austin as one of this year’s pop-up guys, meaning someone who has raised their prospect stock considerably since the start of the season. You need a Baseball Prospectus subscription to read the entire article, but the Austin write-up is at the top and not behind the paywall. In other words, go read it.
Meanwhile, Doug Bernier was put on the DL with an oblique strain. With he and Ramiro Pena (groin/quad) on the shelf, the Triple-A squad is down to their third string shortstop, otherwise known as the Double-A utility infielder.
Triple-A Scranton (2-1 win over Columbus)
LF Brett Gardner: 1-2, 1 R, 1 3B, 2 BB, 1 K — played seven innings in the field (replaced by Cole Gardner, who didn’t come to the plate) which is typical rehab stuff … the triple was a double that he hustled into a three-bagger … unless he wakes up with some serious soreness, I have to think we’ll see him in the Bronx tomorrow
2B Kevin Russo: 1-3, 1 RBI, 1 K, 1 SB
1B Steve Pearce: 1-3, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 BB — only eight hits in his last ten games, but three of them have left the yard
DH Jack Cust, CF Colin Curtis & SS Yadil Mujica: all 0-3 — Cust walked and whiffed … Curtis struck out
RF Ronnie Mustelier: 2-4, 1 2B — six hits in 19 at-bats (.316) since the promotion
3B Brandon Laird: 0-4, 2 K
C Frankie Cervelli: 1-3, 2 K
RHP Dellin Betances: 8 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, 10/2 GB/FB — 62 of 97 pitches were strikes (63.9%) … first batter of the game hit a solo homer and the walks didn’t come until the seventh and eighth innings, so there were a whole lotta outs in between … easily his best start of the season and his best since early last August
RHP Kevin Whelan: 1 IP, zeroes, 2 K — eight of 11 pitches were strikes (72.8%)