Columbus roster continues to fluctuate | Guardians minors roundup for Sept. 3

Triple-A Columbus Clippers (3-3) at St. Paul (Twins)

Injuries and pitching needs at the major-league level greatly impacted the Clippers’ roster while playing at St. Paul, thankfully not far from where the Guardians were playing at Minnesota in the middle of last week.

The Clippers’ offense for the most part produced at St. Paul. Through games on Sept. 2, Kyle Manzardo was carrying a five-game hitting streak, adding a double, RBI and a walk in Columbus’ 8-5 win on Sept. 1, then two more doubles in the 4-1 win on Sept. 2, and another walk. While he is now unlikely to see major-league time in September with Kole Calhoun and Josh Naylor playing regularly, Manzardo is hitting .348/.444/.522 in six games at Triple-A.

Jose Tena played a big role in the Guardians’ comeback win on Sept. 2. But before he was recalled to join the team for September call-ups, he went 5-for-12 with a homer in the series at St. Paul, with the homer coming in Columbus’ 8-7 loss Aug. 31.

Despite a slow start to the week, George Valera ended up with two of his five hits through games on Sept. 2 going for homers. He added three hits in the series finale. He homered in Columbus’ 8-7 loss on Aug. 31 and had three RBI and a walk, and his ninth-inning homer on Sept. 2 helped the Clippers to a 4-1 win. Valera is also now unlikely to see time in September in the majors this year.

Angel Martinez was called back up from Akron to take Tena’s spot on the roster. The Clippers also received Oscar Gonzalez back from Cleveland on September 3, as Josh Naylor was activated. The Clippers are in need of outfielders as Chris Roller was traded to Milwaukee for cash on Aug. 31 and Micah Pries was unfortunately carted off the field on Aug. 30 after trying to catch a fly ball and may no come back this year.

Joey Cantillo turned in another fine start in the midst of a bunch of spot starts in other rotation spots this week for Columbus. He held St. Paul to one run in six innings, allowing a hit and three walks, punching out five in the 4-1 win on Sept. 2.

Cade Smith was unfortunately on the mound during the Clippers 8-7 extra-inning loss on Aug. 31, but he struck out seven in four innings in which he didn’t allow an earned run, while walking three.

Columbus will host Scranton-Wilks Barre (Yankees) starting Sept. 5.

Double-A Akron RubberDucks (4-2) vs. Bowie Baysox (Orioles)

Aaron Bracho’s resurgence continued, with big blasts in back-to-back games on Sept. 1-2. His homer on Sept. 1 gave Akron a 6-5 lead and eventual win. The infielder has 17 homers now, six in August, and  healready has two homers and five RBI in September through two games played.

Juan Brito’s batting line through games on Sept. 2 wasn’t impressive, but he still managed to drive in four runs in five games with a pair of doubles and a sac fly. Though he was just 3-for-15, he also worked four walks.

Despite not having much prospect status, OF Korey Holland has played a lot in 2023 due to injuries and ineffectiveness affecting the Guardians’ minor-league outfield availability. He added a triple, homer and four RBI on the week along with a steal. His Sept. 1 homer helped Akron to a 6-5 win.

Doug Nikhazy was on the mound for that Sept. 1, 6-5 win and struck out 10 batters. Nikhazy also walked four, hit a batter, but only allowed three hits and two runs in 4 1/3 innings.

Due to innings limits and piggyback roles, Akron’s starting pitching isn’t going as deep in games. But the bullpen continues to play a big role. Franco Aleman, the biggest weapon of them all, continued to run his scoreless streak at Double-A up, now at 21 1/3 innings thanks to two scoreless innings during the week. He fanned three and walked two without any hits allowed. He slammed the door on Sept. 2.

Tanner Burns has moved to the bullpen late in the year and picked up his first career save, throwing two perfect innings this week with three strikeouts.

Tyler Thornton added to the bullpen’s strong work with 3 1/3 scoreless innings, though he walked one and hit two batters, while striking out four.

Akron will play at Richmond (Giants) Sept. 5-10 on its last road trip of 2023.

High-A Lake County  Captains (2-4) at Cedar Rapids Kernels (Twins)

The Captains could not muster much offensively early in the week and late in the week when they did, the pitching struggled, hurting their playoff race chances. Chase DeLauter went 4-for-5 on Aug. 30 with a double and an RBI, the Captains lost, 3-2. He added two more hits, including another double, on Aug. 31, which the Captains also lost, 12-1.A six-game hitting streak raised the 2022 first-round pick’s line to .366/.400/.556 through 142 at-bats.

Shortstop Kahlil Watson had just three hits this week, but two were big-time homers. He hit a pair of dingers over 400 feet, one Sept. 1 in an 11-7 loss. He homered again Sept. 2 in the Captains 8-3 win, but left the game after just two plate appearances and didn’t play again in the finale, Sept. 3.

After slowing down a bit, Dayan Frias did his part offensively with a 6-16 week through Sept 2, including two doubles.

2023 draft pick Cooper Ingle continued his hot start to his career, going 4-for-10 with seven RBI. The catcher from Clemons also drew four walks and struck out just once.

Despite the lopsided loss Aug. 31, Ethan Hankins threw four scoreless innings, allowing two hits but walking two and fanning six. Ryan Webb’s start on Aug. 30 was easily the best pitching performance of the week, allowing two runs in five innings, but included eight strikeouts and just one walk.

The Captains are 3 1/2 games out of the playoff race and wrap up their regular season at home, hosting Lansing Sept. 5-10.

Single-A Lynchburg Hillcats (3-3) at Fredericksburg National (Nationals)

The Hillcats put up most of their offense this week in a 13-1 win Sept. 1. Outfielder Guy Lipscomb was 3-for-5 with a walk, two RBI and a steal. That steal was his 45th of the year in 51 attempts. He had six hits and five walks overall on the week in 21 plate appearances (.375/.524/.500). Shortstop Jose Devers had three hits and his 11th homer of the year in that Sept. 1 win. He also had six hits and five walks on the week. Two of Angel Genao’s eight hits game in that Sept. 1 blowout win. He also drove in two runs throughout the week.

2023 draft pick, first baseman/outfielder CJ Kayfus also had a big week with two homers, a double and six RBI. His two-run homer on Sept. 3 helped power the Hillcats to a 5-3 win. He

Outfielder Wuilfredo Antunez socked his fifth homer of the year in the Hillcats 6-4 win on Aug. 31. He had four RBI on the week total.

Jackson Humphries was on his way to an outstanding start on Aug. 30. The 2022 draft pick fanned nine in four innings, walked one and hit a batter, but he allowed a three-run homer in the last inning of his start and gave up four runs total in the four innings.

Fellow 2022 draft pick and lefty Adam Tulloch tried to pitch the Hillcats to a win on Sept. 2 with five innings of one hit, one run ball and six strikeouts. Lynchburg however went on to lose, 4-3.

The Hillcats are 3 1/2 games out of a playoff spot and host Kannapolis (White Sox) Sept. 5-10 in the final regular season homestand of 2023. Carolina sits ahead of them in the standings.