Starting Nine

Numbers through Sunday’s games

1. Lanky lefty Jackson Wolf has 119 strikeouts this season, 11th-most for a pitcher at that level. Good chance we see him in Pittsburgh at some point. Has a 3.46 ERA in three starts with Double-A Altoona.

2. Tsung-Che Cheng is tied for the MiLB lead with 10 triples. Intriguing as a prospect because of his speed, sneaky pop and position flexibility. Hitting .298 with an .857 OPS in 102 games across two levels this season.

3. Encouraging return for Quinn Priester back at Triple-A on Saturday, working four scoreless innings and striking out six. He’ll be back but needs to figure out some stuff first.

4. Rob Zastryzny was quietly very good for Triple-A Indy, posting a 2.63 ERA in 12 games (13 2/3 innings) since July 5, walking none, striking out 15 and permitting zero homers.

5. Could we hear about Domingo Leyba soon? Has seen 55 MLB games with the Diamondbacks and Orioles, though he has hit just .152 in those. Since joining Indy on July 26, Leyba has hit .298 with a 1.043 OPS in 17 games, which includes two doubles, a triple and five home runs.

6. Another Pirates farmhand we should probably discuss more: righthanded starter Aaron Shortridge. He’s a 26-year-old fourth-round pick out of Cal in 2018. Had Tommy John in January 2021. Has seemingly hit his stride in August, pitching to a 1.71 ERA in three starts.

7. Malcom Nunez had an .838 OPS and three homers in 14 games since starting his return Aug. 1. Mason Martin has an .886 OPS and doesn’t have a home run this month, but has been hitting .314 with fewer strikeouts. Will be interesting if one gets a shot at first base.

8. If the big club needs a reliever — which happens, oh, about every week — Hunter Stratton might be a name you hear. Has been pitching extremely well, with a 1.23 ERA, .143 batting average against and 20 strikeouts in his last 12 outings (14 2/3 innings).

9. Mentioned Jack Brannigan earlier. He’s been even better since joining the Grasshoppers, posting a .305 average and 1.032 OPS compared to .253 and .849, respectively, with the Marauders. The park helps, sure. But Brannigan’s development while choosing hitting over pitching has been important.

Extras: The calls for Miguel Andujar have cooled, perhaps because he has, as well, hitting just .211 with a .570 OPS in his past 11.