April 8 Minor League Preview

 

Matt Boyd
Matt Boyd

 

Well, last night was a light night for Blue Jays’ baseball with an off night for the big league squad and two minor league teams and rain postponing the only two scheduled games.

 

 

Buffalo Bisons (2-0)

 

Sean Nolin
Sean Nolin

 

It appears that the Buffalo Bisons will try once again to send lefty Sean Nolin out on the mound against the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs. He’ll face 24-year-old righty David Buchanan who threw six shutout innings against the Pawtucket Red Sox in his last time out. The game will be available on MiLB TV at 7:05 pm.

 

New Hampshire Fisher Cats (2-2)

 

Aaron Sanchez
Aaron Sanchez

 

If you’re able watch this game (available on MiLB TV), I highly recommend it because you’re going to be treated to a pitching duel (I’ll most likely watch later on). The 6:35 start time has the Blue Jays’ top prospect Aaron Sanchez going against the Philadelphia Phillies’ top pitching prospect, Jesse Biddle. In his last start, Biddle, 22, was hammered by the Portland Sea Dogs (BOS), giving up four runs on nine hits and two walks in three and a third innings but he still struck out five batters. Sanchez, on the other hand, threw five dominant innings at the Trenton Thunder (NYY), giving up just one hit and two walks with five strikeouts.

 

Dunedin Blue Jays (3-1)

 

Dwight Smith, Jr.
Dwight Smith, Jr.

 

The Blue Jays take on the Daytona Cubs who are off to a slow, 1-3 start to the season. The D-Jays send season opener starter Matt Boyd to the hill. Boyd, 23, was dominant, giving up just five hits (and no runs or walks) over seven innings with five strikeouts in his season debut and, with another few starts like that, the lefty could be making his presence known as a prospect to watch. The D-Jays also feature Dwight Smith, Jr. who made headlines by taking big leaguer Cole Hamels deep twice in the club’s last game on Sunday. The Cubs counter with 24-year-old righty Felix Pena who had a very good start against Brevard County in his last outing (6 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 3 K).

 

UPDATE: This game has been rained out.

 

Lansing Lugnuts (1-3)

 

Tom Robson
Tom Robson

 

For the Lugnuts, Tuesday is their home opener and they send Tom Robson (who started the Crosstown Showdown) up against the 2-2 Quad Cities River Bandits. Robson, 20, was dominant last season in Bluefield and Vancouver and is a real leader on the mound. He has one of the heaviest sinkers I’ve seen and is able to keep the ball on the ground as well as keep batters off the bases with his very good control. The Lugnuts had a rough weekend, losing three straight games to Lake County but are hoping to get back on track in the friendly confines of Cooley Law School Stadium. Robson faces Chris Lee, 21. Lee threw only two innings on Thursday and gave up a run on one hit and four walks with just one strikeout. The 6’4″ lefty also spent 2013 in the Appalachian League and is probably someone with whom the Lugnuts’ lineup is familiar.

 

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