Tue. 9/16 - Shuck Yeah! Postseason Begins with Single Road Game

[Jim Goulart]

This thread will be utilized for any minor league news Monday and Tuesday.

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Via Javik Blake:

The Shuckers will begin the 2025 Southern League Playoffs on Tuesday at 6:35 p.m. against the Montgomery Biscuits (Rays) at Riverwalk Stadium in game one of the best-of-three Southern League Division Series. Starters have not been announced for either team. Fans can listen live on the Biloxi Shuckers Radio Network with pregame coverage beginning at 6:15 p.m.

[Ro Mueller]

We’ve got Biloxi’s scheduled starting pitchers for the playoff semifinals (Division Series):

 

[Ro Mueller]

Purely speculating, but Montgomery’s opposing starters will likely be:
- RHP Brody Hopkins - Rays’ #3 prospect (1.16 ERA with 39 Ks in 31 IP in last 6 starts) 
- RHP TJ Nichols - Rays’ #20 prospect (0.97 ERA with 37 Ks in 37 IP in last 6 starts)
- RHP Ty Johnson - Rays’ #19 prospect (2.67 ERA with 39 Ks in 30.1 IP in last 6 starts)

UPDATE: MILB.com now indeed reflects these as Montgomery’s scheduled starters for the series.

[MattK]

15 hours ago, Ro Mueller said:

Purely speculating, but Montgomery’s opposing starters will likely be:
- RHP Brody Hopkins - Rays’ #3 prospect (1.16 ERA with 39 Ks in 31 IP in last 6 starts) 
- RHP TJ Nichols - Rays’ #20 prospect (0.97 ERA with 37 Ks in 37 IP in last 6 starts)
- RHP Ty Johnson - Rays’ #19 prospect (2.67 ERA with 39 Ks in 30.1 IP in last 6 starts)

UPDATE: MILB.com now indeed reflects these as Montgomery’s scheduled starters for the series.

Ugh.  Montgomery got hot and those starting pitching numbers seem to be a big part of it.

[Joseph Zarr]

3 hours ago, MattK said:

Ugh.  Montgomery got hot and those starting pitching numbers seem to be a big part of it.

Well, indeedly do they do. And Montgomery just swept these same Shuckers in Montgomery just three series ago by a lopsided score of 28-13. Albeit, this was certainly aided by a 12-5 game 6 walloping when the new look bullpen conceded 10 runs over 4.0 IP including an 8-spot in the deciding 5th frame.

However, back to the Biscuits pitching. In that same series Montgomery won games by the scores of 3-1, 3-2, 3-1, 5-3, and 3-1. 

The point? The Shuckers truly have their work cut out for them. I would personally lean Biscuits favored in this best of three set.

[Jim Goulart]

Biloxi Press Release:

BILOXI, MS – The Biloxi Shuckers and Milwaukee Brewers have announced the team’s playoff roster for the 2025 Southern League Division Series, set to begin today (9/16) at 6:35 p.m. against the Montgomery Biscuits. The Shuckers will host games two and three (if necessary) at Keesler Federal Park on Thursday, September 18, and Friday, September 19. The playoff roster includes 27 players, and RHP Manuel Rodriguez has been placed on the Development List.

PITCHERS (13): Raúl Alcantara, Kaleb Bowman, Jesús Broca, Jaron DeBerry, Bishop Letson, Tyson Hardin, K.C. Hunt, Travis MacGregor, Mark Manfredi, Abdiel Mendoza, Zach Peek, Austin Roberts, Brett Wichrowski

CATCHERS (2): Darrien Miller, Matthew Wood

INFIELDERS (8): Luke Adams, Mike Boeve, Eric Brown Jr., Blake Burke, Jesús Made, Cooper Pratt, Zavier Warren, Brock Wilken

OUTFIELDERS (4): Eduardo Garcia, Luis Lara, Bladimir Restituyo, Garrett Spain

 

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Cooper Pratt listed, thumb hopefully OK for Game One.

[Joseph Zarr]

 

[Ro Mueller]

The AA Biloxi Shuckers’ Game 1 lineup for their best-of-three Southern League Division Series has big bashers 1B Blake Burke (11 HR in 37 AA games) and DH Brock Wilken (18 HR in 79 AA games) hitting 3rd and 4th, while the middle infield comprises SS Jesus Made and 2B Eduardo Garcia.

RHP Brett Wichrowski (3.44 ERA with 72 Ks in 99.1 IP) gets the start at Rays’ affiliate Montgomery, who counter with RHP Brody Hopkins (2.72 ERA with 141 Ks in 116 IP).

[Ro Mueller]

The Sounds are in Louisville to battle the Reds’ affiliate in their final series of the 2025 campaign. RHP Alexander Cornielle makes his second AAA start (4.2 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 7 Ks last week). RF Jared Oliva is due to break out of his 0-for-20, 1 BB mini-slump.

[Turning2]

Hope they finish with a bang! Going to have to skip some of the Brewer game and watch the Shucks!

[Joseph Zarr]

There is a mild amount of last week International League drama with post-season implications. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Yankees) is currently 3.0 G up on the Syracuse Mets. The Mets play 3rd place Lehigh Valley (Phillies - 5.5 GB) while the RailRiders play second to last place Buffalo (Blue Jays - 15.0 GB). It's obviously a favorable SWB set-up - they lead by 3.0 G and they are playing the inferior opponent. Both these series (SWB and Syracuse) are on the road. 

[Joseph Zarr]

I always have a mild sense of awe when the Sounds face the Bats. Manager Rick Sweet is the Wins leader for both organizations. The man is Legend.

[Joseph Zarr]

Sounds half of the 1st:

Berroa K looking. Black weak shallow pop fly out to CF. Seigler K swinging. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Cornielle concedes an 0-1 second pitch oppo taco. 1-0 Bats. He tried to consecutive heaters to the high outside corner. It did not work. He then is ripped for a second back-to-back HR. Yikes. Another 0-1 pitch. This one went right back belt high over the heart of the plate. 2-0 Bats.

[Joseph Zarr]

380 foot HR to RF. 381 foot HR to RF. I guess that's consistent? 

[Joseph Zarr]

Fly out to LF. One out. 1-2 count falls full. Walks high and outside. 2 HR. 1 BB in his first inning of work. Both first frames have been mildly disastrous for Cornielle in two Triple-A starts. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Cornielle then gets the DP to end the threat. Last week he did not concede a run after the first frame. Let's hope that holds true again. 2-0 Sounds trail headed to the 2nd.

[Joseph Zarr]

Delgado is the first Sound on base via BB. Nice AB. Oliva will not get on base in his first AB - shallow pop out to RF tracked easily by the 2B. One down. Delgado on first. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Dunn stays hot ripping a smoked double to the right CF gap. 17th double of his season. That ball was ripped. Men on 2nd and 3rd for C Eric Haase and his 8-Game on base streak.

[Joseph Zarr]

Haase strands them both with a weak bloop to 2B. It'll be 2-0 on to Cornielle's second inning of work. 

[Joseph Zarr]

First K for Cornielle is a 1-2 swinging K on a very nice tailing dipping outer black breaker. He then gets a first pitch fly out to RF. That's a 1-2-3 second for Cornielle. He's been ahead in every count. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Zamora leads off the 3rd with a second consecutive inning-beginning free pass. Man aboard for Berroa. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Berroa sac bunts Zamora to 2B. One down for Black. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Black walks on four pitches. Men on 1st and 2nd. That's Franco's 3rd BB in two innings. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Two consecutive innings the Sounds strand two. On to the bottom of the 3rd. 2-0 Bats.