COLLEGE STATION, Texas – August wrapped up with six Aggies on Major League Baseball rosters. The list includes Daniel Mengden (Oakland A's), A.J. Minter (Atlanta Braves), Tyler Naquin (Cleveland Indians), Ross Stripling (Los Angeles Dodgers), Michael Wacha (St. Louis Cardinals) and Alex Wilson (Detroit Tigers). With the exception of the Tigers, all the teams with Aggies are in the playoff chase.
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Highlights from the month include Minter assuming a key role in the Braves' bullpen as they claimed the lead in the National League Eastern Division and Mengden making his return to the big leagues.
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Daniel Mengden – Oakland Athletics
After six weeks at Triple-A Nashville, Mengden made his return to the A's at the end of month, pitching 4.0 innings of scoreless relief in his only outing on August 27. In 2018, Mengden is 6-6 with a 4.47 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 96.2 innings for Oakland.
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A.J. Minter – Atlanta Braves
Minter continues his strong second season with the Braves. He has worked in 57 games out of the Atlanta bullpen, posting a 4-2 record with 12 saves. 11 holds, a 3.06 ERA and 60 strikeouts in 53.0 innings. He logged a 1-0 record with five saves four saves in July as the Braves claimed the lead in the NL East and stretched their lead to three games by month's end.
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Tyler Naquin – Cleveland Indians
Naquin has appeared in 61 games for the AL Central leading Indians, batting .264 (46-for-174) with 22 runs, seven doubles, three home runs and 23 RBI. He had a pair of three-RBI games in July before he was placed on the disabled list for the second time in 2018. He is expected to return in time for the postseason.
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Ross Stripling – Los Angeles Dodgers
Stripling was selected to the National League roster for the MLB All-Star Game and he pitched 1.2 innings in the NL's 8-6 loss. Stripling is 8-3 on the season with a 2.62 ERA, a 1.127 WHIP and 121 strikeouts in 110.0 innings. He leads the National League with a 7.12 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Stripling was limited to one game August, allowing just one run in a 6.0-inning no-decision against the Colorado Rockies. He is expected to come off the 10-Day Disabled List in early September.
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Michael Wacha – St. Louis Cardinals
Wacha spent all of July and August on the disabled list, but he is expected to return to the rotation the middle of September. He has started 15 games, posting an 8-2 record with a 3.20 ERA and 71 strikeouts in 84.1 innings. Before his injury, Wacha's ERA ranked in the top 10 in the National League and he appeared destined for his second MLB All-Star Game appearance.
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Alex Wilson – Detroit Tigers
Wilson has appeared in 51 games out of the Tigers' bullpen, recording 11 holds, a 2-4 record and a 3.69 ERA. He has racked up 37 strikeouts and a 1.137 WHIP in 53.2 innings. He was 1-1 with three holds in 11.0 innings of work in August.
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Highlights from the month include Minter assuming a key role in the Braves' bullpen as they claimed the lead in the National League Eastern Division and Mengden making his return to the big leagues.
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Daniel Mengden – Oakland Athletics
After six weeks at Triple-A Nashville, Mengden made his return to the A's at the end of month, pitching 4.0 innings of scoreless relief in his only outing on August 27. In 2018, Mengden is 6-6 with a 4.47 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 96.2 innings for Oakland.
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A.J. Minter – Atlanta Braves
Minter continues his strong second season with the Braves. He has worked in 57 games out of the Atlanta bullpen, posting a 4-2 record with 12 saves. 11 holds, a 3.06 ERA and 60 strikeouts in 53.0 innings. He logged a 1-0 record with five saves four saves in July as the Braves claimed the lead in the NL East and stretched their lead to three games by month's end.
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Tyler Naquin – Cleveland Indians
Naquin has appeared in 61 games for the AL Central leading Indians, batting .264 (46-for-174) with 22 runs, seven doubles, three home runs and 23 RBI. He had a pair of three-RBI games in July before he was placed on the disabled list for the second time in 2018. He is expected to return in time for the postseason.
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Ross Stripling – Los Angeles Dodgers
Stripling was selected to the National League roster for the MLB All-Star Game and he pitched 1.2 innings in the NL's 8-6 loss. Stripling is 8-3 on the season with a 2.62 ERA, a 1.127 WHIP and 121 strikeouts in 110.0 innings. He leads the National League with a 7.12 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Stripling was limited to one game August, allowing just one run in a 6.0-inning no-decision against the Colorado Rockies. He is expected to come off the 10-Day Disabled List in early September.
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Michael Wacha – St. Louis Cardinals
Wacha spent all of July and August on the disabled list, but he is expected to return to the rotation the middle of September. He has started 15 games, posting an 8-2 record with a 3.20 ERA and 71 strikeouts in 84.1 innings. Before his injury, Wacha's ERA ranked in the top 10 in the National League and he appeared destined for his second MLB All-Star Game appearance.
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Alex Wilson – Detroit Tigers
Wilson has appeared in 51 games out of the Tigers' bullpen, recording 11 holds, a 2-4 record and a 3.69 ERA. He has racked up 37 strikeouts and a 1.137 WHIP in 53.2 innings. He was 1-1 with three holds in 11.0 innings of work in August.