Knights Knotes — May 16, 2018
KNIGHT LIGHTS: The Charlotte Knights (Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox) will continue their six-day road trip through the state of Ohio this morning. The Knights will play game two of a three-game series against the Toledo Mud Hens (Triple-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers) from Fifth Third Field in Toledo, OH with first pitch set for 10:35 a.m.. This series, which runs from May 15-May 17, will be followed by a three-game series from Columbus, OH from May 18-May 20 as the Knights will face the Columbus Clippers (Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians) from Huntington Park in Columbus, OH. Charlotte’s trip this week to Columbus will be the team’s second and final one of the season.
WAKE UP CALL: The Knights went 1–1 last week with back-to-back morning games played in Gwinnett against the Stripers. They enter today’s morning game with a 2–1 record this season in games that start before noon. The two teams will play a morning game on Thursday at 10:35 a.m. as well.
CHARLOTTE VS. TOLEDO: Today’s game will be the second of the 2018 season between the Charlotte Knights and Toledo Mud Hens. The Knights are 0–1 after last night’s loss. Last season, the Knights went 3–3 overall against the Mud Hens and 2–1 at Fifth Third Field. In their all-time series, the Knights are 163–131 against the Mud Hens and 79–73 all-time at Fifth Third Field.
ABOUT LAST KNIGHT: RHP Dylan Covey was sharp over six strong innings on Tuesday, but the Charlotte Knights dropped game one of their three-game series against the Toledo Mud Hens by a score of 3–2 on Tuesday from Fifth Third Field in Toledo, OH. Covey allowed just one unearned run on four hits over six innings. He struck out six batters and walked just one. Right fielder Mason Robbins and third baseman Patrick Leonard had two hits apiece for the Knights in the opener. Robbins drove home Charlotte’s first run of the game with an RBI triple in the top of the fourth inning. Robbins later scored in the inning on a passed ball.
TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER: RHP Jordan Stephens (NR) will make his Triple-A debut today for the Charlotte Knights as he gets the start in the middle game of the three-game series against the Mud Hens. Stephens, who entered the 2018 season ranked as the number 16 prospect in the Chicago White Sox organization by Baseball America, was promoted to the Charlotte Knights from Double-A Birmingham on May 13. Stephens took the roster spot of LHP Matt Tomshaw, who was assigned to Double-A Birmingham. Stephens, 25 posted a 4–3 record with a 2.95 ERA in seven starts (39.2 IP/40 SO) with the Double-A Birmingham Barons this season. The Houston, TX native has won each of his last four starts and is 4–0 with a 1.31 ERA over that four-game span (23.2 IP). He is currently sixth in the Southern League in ERA and fifth in strikeouts (40). He was drafted by the White Sox in the 15th round of the 2015 First-Year Player Draft.
SOLID START: RHP Dylan Covey (3–1, 2.33) allowed just one unearned run last night over six innings while striking out six batters but did not factor in the decision. Covey is now ninth in the IL this season in ERA with a 2.33 mark. Over his last four starts, he has allowed just three earned runs and is 2–0 with a 1.16 ERA over that span (23.1 IP). Covey, 26, had his contract purchased by the Chicago White Sox earlier this season on April 28. He started game two of Chicago’s split doubleheader against the Kanas City Royals that day (L, 6.0 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 3 SO). Covey was optioned back to the Knights after that game. Covey was acquired by the Chicago White Sox on December 8, 2016 when he was selected in the major league portion of the Rule 5 Draft.
NO BULL-PEN: LHP Thyago Vieira worked two scoreless innings on May 12 and has not allowed a run over his last three games (4.0 IP). Over his last eight appearances, Vieira has allowed just two earned runs (10.2 IP). For his efforts, MiLB Pipeline named him their Reliever of the Week for the week ending May 12th… LHP Xavier Cedeño has not allowed a run over his last seven games (6.2 IP)… RHP Jeanmar Gómez did not allow a run over a stretch of five straight games (April 25-May 9) for a total of 9.2 straight scoreless innings pitched… RHP Rob Scahill has not allowed an earned run over his last nine games (9.0 IP). He has not allowed a run in six games this month (5.2 IP).
IL LEADERS: INF Matt Skole is tied for fourth in the IL this season in walks (20)… INF Juan Perez and OF Jacob May are tied for third in stolen bases (8). May is also second in the IL in sacrifice hits (4)… In the pitching department, RHP Michael Kopech is tied for second in the IL in strikeouts (44)… RHP Donny Roach is first in the IL in innings pitched (46.1) and first in games started (8)… LHP TJ House is tied for first in the IL in complete games (1)… RHP Rob Scahill is tied for second in games (15)… LHP Xavier Cedeño is second in holds with five… In the team department, the Knights are tied for first stolen bases with 36.
