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Milwaukee Brewers: Biloxi Shuckers Week 19 – Lopez Turns in Best Start

By Ace Schneider |
Sep 29, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Jorge Lopez (28) pitches during the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 29, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Jorge Lopez (28) pitches during the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
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SP Jorge Lopez has been looking for some consistency this season and turned in his best start just last night.

At the start of the season, a lot was expected out of SP Jorge Lopez as he had his best full year in the MiLB by having a 2.26 ERA in 143.1 IP.  In the last two seasons, in lower levels in the system, he didn’t have a 4.58 ERA or lower.

This season he was the Milwaukee Brewers #2 ranked minor league player by Baseball America and started out in AAA in Colorado Springs. He certainly had high expectations. While at first many pitchers’ stats look a bit off due to playing in Colorado, Lopez simply couldn’t adjust as a breaking ball like curve might’ve just not worked out so well.

Going back to an article in 2005, The Hardball Times, took a look at why a pitcher like Jeff Francis was pitching so well. The key was good control and a two-seam fastball. Of course, no surprise Brent Suter who was recently called up by the Milwaukee Brewers pitches a two-seam fastball and was the best in Colorado Springs having a 3.50 ERA in 110.2 IP.

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But, overall Lopez still needed to find a way to adjust and his numbers weren’t even close to where they were last year with the Biloxi Shuckers. In 79.1 IP, he had a 6.81 ERA and he nearly 3 more walks per 9 innings with a 6.24 BB/9 in AAA.

On July 25th, he was sent back down to AA and had to figure out like many pitchers have to when they struggle, his control. He went 5 IP in each of his first 4 starts and showed times of his 2015 productivity having 10 Ks in one game, but still hadn’t put it all together.

Yesterday, he had a solid start all around, so let’s check out the numbers along with the rest of the pitchers and hitters for the Milwaukee Brewers AA team. They went 4-2 and are 62-61 overall this season.

Next: Top 3 Pitchers

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Top 3 Pitchers

SP Jorge Lopez

27.0 IP / 4.67 ERA / 6.31 FIP (AA numbers only/FIP not updated from last night’s start)

Lopez’s last two starts (out of 5 total) were his best yet with the Shuckers. In 5 IP last he gave up 2 ER, 2 BBs, and 3 Ks with a total of 95 pitches. Yesterday, he seemed to put it all together pitching more than 5 innings for once as he had 7 IP, 1 ER, 1 BB, and 6 Ks. The Milwaukee Brewers organizations hopes Lopez can have more starts like that to end the season on a good note.

SP Luis Ortiz

12.1 IP / 0.00 ERA / 3.23 FIP (Shuckers stats only)

Ortiz got his pitch count up a bit with 78 pitches as he continues to battle back from a groin strain. In doing that, he had his most innings pitched with the Shuckers going 5.2 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 BBs, and 2 Ks. All signs point to a promising rest of the season for the #5 Milwaukee Brewers prospect.

RP Stephen Kohlscheen

45 IP / 2.20 ERA / 2.13 FIP

Kohlscheen rebounded from last week’s first blown save as he had two appearances including a save on Wednesday night for Ortiz’s start. That brings his total up to 19 for the season. The 27-year old isn’t your typical closer with a big fastball as his gets up to the low 90s, but he has a number of breaking balls like his slider and sinker that probably play a big role.

Next: Top 3 Hitters

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Top 3 Hitters

RF Clint Coulter

.429/.510/.643 / 2 HRs/7 RBIs / 9.1 BB%/6.8 K% (AA numbers only)

The Shuck Dynasty mentioned Coulter had his 10-game hit streak snapped on Friday night which got him named Southern League Player of the Week. While he ended the hitting streak on Friday, he got right back to it on Saturday, having two hits including a 2B and an RBI. Coulter is another one that hopes to end the season on a good note as the call up may have been a breathe of fresh air.

C Jacob Nottingham

.241/.304/.348 / 9 HRs/33 RBIs / 6.6 BB%/30.1 K%

Nottingham didn’t keep the hitting streak going that he started from last week, but that certainly doesn’t mean he had a poor week. While he only appeared in 4 games this week, he had 5 hits including a 2B and a HR. With his AVG at .241, it’s the first time it’s been this high since July 22nd.

3B Gabriel Noriega

.263/.291/.351 / 3 HRs/13 RBIs / 3.0 BB%/10.8 K% (Shuckers numbers only)

While not one to have eye-opening numbers, Noriega seems to have slowly gotten up off his feet since early July when he had a .215 AVG. With a low 10.8 K%, he seems to at least have a better chance to get on base. This week he had 5 Hs, 2 RBIs, and 2 BBs. The Milwaukee Brewers signed him in early June after being released from the Diamondbacks and he has seemed to make the most of it.

Next: Brewers MiLB Pitcher of the Year

Other notes:

RP Brooks Hall was promoted to AAA Colorado Springs.

All stats via FanGraphs or MiLB

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