Round Rock's Rotation Roulette
Published on June 23, 2008 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Round Rock Express News Release
ROUND ROCK - When Runelvys Hernandez takes the mound in his debut with the Astros on Friday, he'll be greeted by the Boston Red Sox and what is likely to be a sold out crowd at Minute Maid Park.
What he'll leave behind is a Round Rock rotation in the midst of a major overhaul.
With Hernandez' scheduled promotion into Houston's rotation Friday, Round Rock loses its winningest pitcher (6-3, 3.72 ERA) and is left with three healthy starters and a series of back-ups that includes former Astros starters and relievers and a recent Double-A call-up.
Right-handers Chad Reineke and Ron Chiavacci, along with left-hander Josh Muecke, represent the trio of true current starters for the Express. Combined, the three are 9-14 this season. Chiavacci, who joined Round Rock in early June as part of the Stephen Randolph trade, is 1-1 with a 6.88 ERA in three starts. Reineke has picked up a pair of wins since May 3 and Muecke has allowed four or more runs in each of his last four starts, but has limited left-handed hitters to a paltry .197 batting average.
That leaves right-hander Jack Cassel - who carries one of the lowest ERAs in the Pacific Coast League (2.05) but has missed three starts with a sore back - and a wealth of possibilities for the fourth and fifth slots in the Express rotation, including right-handers Josh Miller, Fernando Nieve, Dave Borkowski and Kyle Middleton.
All have appeared as starters for Round Rock, with Miller leading the way. Miller has moved between the bullpen and the rotation five times this season, starting in 10 of his 15 appearances. He is 4-4 with a 5.55 ERA and most recently tossed seven shutout innings against Omaha.
Nieve, who allowed six runs over three relief innings with Houston this year, began the season as one of Round Rock's everyday starters. He was 1-3 with a 5.70 ERA over seven starts before being shifted to the bullpen, where has since posted a 5.93 ERA.
Borkowski, shipped to the Express from Houston's bullpen, made his first start in nearly three years on Sunday, tossing five shutout innings against Oklahoma. Middleton provided four shutout innings of relief in that contest, three weeks after making his lone start for Round Rock in New Orleans.
Houston is expected to make a corresponding move with the promotion of Hernandez on Friday.
Pacific Coast League Stories from June 23, 2008
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- Sounds fall to 'Birds - Nashville Sounds
- Round Rock's Rotation Roulette - Round Rock Express
- Oklahoma RedHawks Game Notes - Oklahoma City Comets
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