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Patriots Notebook 9/10/24: Playoff Race Returns Home

September 10, 2024

Bridgewater, New Jersey – After 131 games have been put in the books, it is the final six that will determine the ultimate fate of the 2024 Patriots. Somerset (38-24) enters the final regular season series of the year facing a 1.5 game margin to first-place Portland (40-23) as the

Bridgewater, New Jersey – After 131 games have been put in the books, it is the final six that will determine the ultimate fate of the 2024 Patriots. Somerset (38-24) enters the final regular season series of the year facing a 1.5 game margin to first-place Portland (40-23) as the New Hampshire Fisher Cats come to TD Bank Ballpark this week while the Sea Dogs welcome Binghamton to Hadlock Field.

The Patriots return home after taking five of seven from the Rumble Ponies last week and even captured sole possession of first place in the Northeast division after a double header sweep last Wednesday. After the Patriots split the final four matchups of the series against Binghamton, Portland was able to sweep the final four contests from New Hampshire to retake the seat atop the division.

A potential postseason run felt like a pipedream not long ago for the 2024 installment of the Patriots. As recently as 8/18, the club sat six games back in the division, but a 17-7 run over their last 24 games has put them within striking distance of clinching their third consecutive postseason berth if they can take care of business this week and get a bit of help from Binghamton.

Small Margin for Error: In a postseason race that is likely going to come down to the result of a single game, or two, the Patriots have faced some tough luck defeats of late. Both defeats at the hands of Binghamton last week came by just one run, and five of the teams’ last six defeats have come by a margin of just two runs or less.

Jonesing When it Counts: Yankees second ranked prospect Spencer Jones, fresh off winning his third Eastern League Player of the Week honors a week ago, continued his torrid second half last week in Binghamton. The 2022 first round draft selection leads all Yankees minor leaguers this season with 76 RBI, which is good for second best in the Eastern League entering the final week of play. Jones, who’s 50 extra-base hits are tied for most in the Bombers system with teammate Rafael Flores, has now tied Agustin Ramirez for the team lead in homers with 16 after going deep in Binghamton last week.

Pitching at the Top: There has been little turnover in the Patriots rotation since the season opened back in April. It has been a slow but steady season of progression and development at the top, particularly from right-handers Zach Messinger and Bailey Dees.

Messinger, who is in his first full season as a starter after beginning the transition last year at Hudson Valley, has gone 4-0 with a 1.69 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and .190 BAA since the All-Star break while his seasons marks of 1.13 WHIP and .211 BAA are both EL best marks. Messinger tossed 144 innings (2nd EL) and fanned 132 batters (3rd EL).

Meanwhile, Dees went into spring training back in February as one of the more intriguing relief prospects in the Yankees system but by the time camp broke, Dees was fully entrenched as a starting pitcher. The learning curve has brought ups and downs for the 25-year-old Penn State product, but with one more regular season start remaining, Dees leads the EL in punchouts with 141 after fanning eight batters over six shutout innings against Binghamton last week. Over his last three starts, Dees has allowed just one earned run and has struck out 25 batters over 17.1 innings of work.

We Got the Beet: Yankees 18th ranked prospect Clayton Beeter, who made his MLB debut earlier this season, pitched in his first regular season action since May 15 after pitching a scoreless eighth inning with two strikeouts against Binghamton on Saturday. Beeter, who has missed nearly four months with a shoulder injury, topped 97 MPH and figures to get a few more appearances under his belt before heading into the offseason.

Fitting in Just Fine: Right-hander Richard Fitts, who was the 2023 Eastern League Pitcher of the Year for Somerset, became the 41st former Patriot in their affiliated era to make their MLB debut after he allowed just two earned runs over 5.2 innings for the Red Sox last weekend. Fitts, who was dealt as part of the package sent to Boston in exchange for outfielder Alex Verdugo, is the 15th former Somerset player to reach the big leagues this season alone.

Knowing the Opponent: The Fisher Cats have a league worst 51-79 mark on the season and are an EL worst 20 games under .500 (21-41) in the second half of the season. At this juncture of the season with little to play for, New Hampshire would love nothing more than to play the role of spoiler over the final week of play.

Of the Blue Jays top 20 prospects on the MLB Pipeline rankings, New Hampshire plays host to only eighth ranked prospect Charles McAdoo after acquiring him from Pittsburgh at the deadline for Isiah Kiner-Falefa. The 22-year-old outfielder, who Somerset saw earlier this season with Altoona, has slashed .285/.370/.491 with 17 homers and 72 RBI to go along with 21 stolen bases in 118 games this season.

Series Pitching Probables:

Tue: RHP Lazardo Estrada (3-4, 3.88 ERA) vs. RHP Trystan Vrieling (11-7, 4.84 ERA)
Wed: LHP Adam Macko (5-4, 4.42 ERA) vs. RHP Bailey Dees (6-7, 4.28 ERA)
Thu: RHP Dev Harrison (4-8, 4.73 ERA) vs. LHP Ben Shields (2-2, 3.23 ERA)
Fri: RHP Nolan McLean (1-8, 4.91 ERA) vs. RHP Zach Messinger (6-8, 3.19 ERA)
Sat: RHP Abdiel Mendoza (8-11, 3.53 ERA) vs. RHP Cam Schlittler (1-4, 4.94 ERA)
Sun: RHP Kevin Miranda (1-0, 0.64 ERA) vs. RHP Trystan Vrieling (11-7, 4.84 ERA)

Matt Kardos | SomersetPatriots.com Senior Writer

Matt Kardos has covered the Yankees minor league system for over a decade and will spend his 12th season on the beat covering the Patriots for SomersetPatriots.com. Throughout his career, Matt has contributed to MLB.com, YES Network and Pinstriped Prospects. When he’s not at the ballpark, Matt enjoys traveling with his wife Kimberly, watching Jets football and collecting sports cards.