COLLEGE STATION, Texas – With the MLB regular season coming to a close Monday, four Aggies helped their teams reach the playoffs which start Tuesday. Three Aggies claimed division pennants, including A.J. Minter (Atlanta Braves), Tyler Naquin (Cleveland Indians) and Ross Stripling (Los Angeles Dodgers). Daniel Mengden's Oakland Athletics earned an American League Wild Card spot.
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September wrapped up with six Aggies on Major League Baseball rosters. Michael Wacha (St. Louis Cardinals) and Alex Wilson (Detroit Tigers) had their teams come up short in pennant races.
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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 August. In his final six outings, he worked 25.0 innings, posting a 1-0 record with a 2.52 ERA. Mengden posted a 7-6 record with a 4.05 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 115.2 innings for Oakland.
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The Athletics travel to play the New York Yankees in the American League Wild Card on Wednesday.
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A.J. Minter – Atlanta Braves
Minter appeared in nine games for the Braves in September as they pulled away in the NL East race, claiming the pennant by eight games. He was 0-1 with four saves, one hold, a 3.86 ERA and 10 strikeouts in 9.1 innings. He worked in 65 games out of the Atlanta bullpen, posting a 4-3 record with 15 saves. 12 holds, a 3.23 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 61.1 innings.
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The Braves open National League Division Series play Thursday with a road game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
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Tyler Naquin – Cleveland Indians
Naquin 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 isn't expected to be on the Indians' ALDS roster, but is expected to be available as an emergency replacement.
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Ross Stripling – Los Angeles Dodgers
Stripling posted an 8-6 record with a 3.02 ERA, a 1.189 WHIP and 136 strikeouts in 122.0 innings. He came off a Disabled List stint the beginning of September, recording one hold and 15 strikeouts in 12 innings of work. Stripling was selected to the National League roster for the MLB All-Star Game.
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The Dodgers host the Braves in an NLDS game Thursday.
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Michael Wacha – St. Louis Cardinals
An injury held Wacha out of action the last three months of the season. He 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 finished his sixth Major League campaign on a roll. He worked in nine games in September, allowing just one run on four hits while striking out seven in 9.0 innings. He was credited with three holds during the month. Wilson finished the year with a 2-4 record, 3.36 ERA, 1.054 WHIP and 43 strikeouts in 61.2 innings.
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September wrapped up with six Aggies on Major League Baseball rosters. Michael Wacha (St. Louis Cardinals) and Alex Wilson (Detroit Tigers) had their teams come up short in pennant races.
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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 August. In his final six outings, he worked 25.0 innings, posting a 1-0 record with a 2.52 ERA. Mengden posted a 7-6 record with a 4.05 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 115.2 innings for Oakland.
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The Athletics travel to play the New York Yankees in the American League Wild Card on Wednesday.
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A.J. Minter – Atlanta Braves
Minter appeared in nine games for the Braves in September as they pulled away in the NL East race, claiming the pennant by eight games. He was 0-1 with four saves, one hold, a 3.86 ERA and 10 strikeouts in 9.1 innings. He worked in 65 games out of the Atlanta bullpen, posting a 4-3 record with 15 saves. 12 holds, a 3.23 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 61.1 innings.
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The Braves open National League Division Series play Thursday with a road game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
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Tyler Naquin – Cleveland Indians
Naquin 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 isn't expected to be on the Indians' ALDS roster, but is expected to be available as an emergency replacement.
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Ross Stripling – Los Angeles Dodgers
Stripling posted an 8-6 record with a 3.02 ERA, a 1.189 WHIP and 136 strikeouts in 122.0 innings. He came off a Disabled List stint the beginning of September, recording one hold and 15 strikeouts in 12 innings of work. Stripling was selected to the National League roster for the MLB All-Star Game.
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The Dodgers host the Braves in an NLDS game Thursday.
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Michael Wacha – St. Louis Cardinals
An injury held Wacha out of action the last three months of the season. He 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 finished his sixth Major League campaign on a roll. He worked in nine games in September, allowing just one run on four hits while striking out seven in 9.0 innings. He was credited with three holds during the month. Wilson finished the year with a 2-4 record, 3.36 ERA, 1.054 WHIP and 43 strikeouts in 61.2 innings.