The weekly farm recap returns, with the Cardinals affiliates generally keeping pace with their previous performance. There were some standouts on the mound and at the dish, which we’ll get into below. You can find the daily recaps here, as well as Greg Ratliff’s latest in-depth look at the Memphis club.
Memphis Redbirds - Week: (3-4), Year (22-15)
Memphis has been streaking as of late, with their last ten games featuring a four-game losing streak, three-game winning streak, back to another losing streak, currently at three games. As Greg discussed in his piece on the Redbirds, the constant roster shuffle can have a big impact on team chemistry, and we could very well be seeing the result of heavy use of the I-55 shuttle. What was once a sizeable division lead has been trimmed to a less-comfortable 2.5 games ahead of the second-place New Orleans Baby Cakes.
Pitcher of the Week
Jack Flaherty (RHP): 1 GS, 6.2 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 13 Ks
Aside from a two-run shot from Oklahoma City shortstop Donovan Solano Jack Flaherty was lights-out for the Redbirds on Wednesday. He continues to tear through the Pacific Coast League, now possessing a 2.27 ERA and 11.65 K/9 across 5 starts. Flaherty will start Tuesday in place of Carlos Martínez.
Player of the Week
Yairo Muñoz (SS): .304/.333/.652, 3 R, 3B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 1 BB, 3 K
Muñoz seems to have found his footing in Memphis, sitting on a .305 average in 23 games. He continued to hit this week, posting two multi-hit games and found the power stroke he’d been missing with two homers and a four-RBI performance and two homers. Before this week, he’d hit just one long ball at AAA.
Springfield Cardinals - Week: (3-4), Year (19-15)
Springfield snapped a four-game losing streak with a win over the Arkansas Travelers yesterday. They just barely outscored opponents 33-30 and featured a rehab start from Adam Wainwright over the past week but finished 3-4, including two one-run losses in Friday’s doubleheader. Springfield has a one-game lead over the Tulsa Drillers in the Texas League North.
Pitcher of the Week
Estarlin Arias (RHP): 2 G, 3.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 Ks
It was a tough week on the mound for the Redbirds. Even the wins were pretty ugly, aside from a strong rehab start from Wainwright. Arias made two strong appearances in relief, including a 2.1-inning, 4-K outing. Arias has been strong for the Redbirds out of the pen this year, as eight of his ten appearances have gone for more than one inning, with four of those going for two innings or more. He’s held opponents to a .242 average in that time.
Player of the Week
Victor Roache (RF): .333/.360/.583, 7 R, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 1 BB, 5 K, 1 SB
He’s baaaaaack. Though not the ridiculous five-homer performance we saw last week, Roache has continued to do well at the plate. Going 8-for-24 with 2 HRs, Roache continued to make solid contact and drive the ball, while scoring 7 runs. He’s scored 15 over the last two weeks and his season OPS now sits at .959.
Palm Beach Cardinals - Week: (5-1), Year (21-14)
Palm Beach continued to show signs of dominance with another strong week, playing to the tune of 8-2 over their last 10 games. They scored under four runs just once (in their only loss) and took the W in three one-run games. At 21-14, they’re now 1.5 games behind the Jupiter Hammerheads in the Florida State League South.
Pitcher of the Week
Casey Meisner (RHP): 2 GS, 11 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 5 BB, 11 Ks
Meisner took the hill for the Palm Beach Cardinals twice this week and was solid in both outings, but his most impressive performance came on six innings of two-hit, six-strikeout, shutout ball on Monday. Meisner was shaken in his first start for Palm Beach at the end of April when he gave up four runs and walked six in three innings, but he’s settled in since then - his one run surrendered in the first inning on Saturday broke a 12-inning scoreless streak he’d accumulated across his previous two shutouts.
Player of the Week
Evan Mendoza (3B): .346/.370/.654 3 R, 2 2B, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 5 K, SB
Mendoza takes the honors again this week after going 9-for-26 with 2 doubles and a 2-HR game. Though he didn’t walk at all at the plate, his OBP was boosted by a HBP. His season stats continue to climb, as he now has a .807 OPS for Palm Beach in 2018.
Peoria Chiefs - Week: (4-3), Year (17-16)
Despite the 4-3 record, Peoria looked to be heating up this week as they ended a four-game losing streak with their current four-game winning streak. The offense was alive and well, with Peoria putting up five runs in three of seven games. They’re now 2.5 games back in the Midwest League Western. They have a chance to gain on the division-leading Clinton LumberKings, opening up a four-game set at home on Monday.
Pitcher of the Week
Levi MaVorhis (RHP): 2 G, 4.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 Ks
Starting pitching was a definite weakness for Peoria this week, and the bullpen saw a lot of action. MaVorhis made two scoreless appearances of at least two innings, picking up a save in his final outing on Friday. In those two innings of work, he struck out four and limited Dayton to just one hit.
Player of the Week
Dennis Ortega (C): .500/.529/.563, 2 R, 2B, 3 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K, 3 SB
Ortega started in just four of Peoria’s seven games this week, but it was more than enough to take the honors. He posted multi-hit games in three of his four starts and went 8-for-16 at the plate as a whole. While there wasn’t much extra-base power, he swiped three bags across those four games — something interesting to see from a catcher. Ortega is hitting .308/.413/.346 on the year.