Pawtucket Preview

The PawSox roll into Buffalo tonight to take on the 1st place Bisons in a battle for top spot in the division.

The PawSox have an impressive group of players that should give the Bisons a good battle over the next 4 games.

Their rotation features 2 of their top prospects, Rubby De La Rosa and Allan Webster, who is coming off of a solid MLB debut for the Red Sox on Sunday.

OF Jackie Bradley Jr. is their #2 prospect according to John Sickels, and has spent time in the Majors this season. Bradley cracked the opening day roster with a hot spring, but showed he wasn't quite ready for prime time as he struggled until he was demoted. He and Gose make an impressive prospect battle in CF.

SP Allen Webster is the #5 prospect, and is a ground ball pitcher who can reach the upper 90's. His repertoire sounds a lot like Justin Masterson to me.

OF Bryce Brentz in the #6 prospect and is a OBP/power type, who Sickels compares to a Ryan Ludwick type.

SS Jose Iglesias was a Cuban import who defected and signed a nice contract with the Red Sox. He's not unlike former Jays prospect Adeiny Hechavarria. He's an all-world glove man who struggles with the bat.

Also, no longer a prospect, but Rubby De La Rosa is another hard throwing pitching prospect, who came over with Allen Webster from the Dodgers in The Trade last August.

A couple guys I like from the PawSox are former Jays farmhand Jonathan Diaz, an IF with a slick glove. Brock Holt is a LH hitting 2B who came over from Pittsburgh in the offseason Hanrahan deal. Holt is a Joe Inglett type, who "knows how to play the game" and gets the job done.

Other starters on the PawSox who we should see a lot of: 1B Brandon Snyder (spent 2012 with the Rangers in MLB), IF Drew Sutton (experience with Braves, Pirates, Rays), OF Jeremy Hazelbaker (a fringy prospect who is getting results so far this season), OF Justin Henry, 1B Mark Hamilton (experience with the MLB Cardinals), and C Ryan Lavarnaway (former top prospect who still has some potential left).

Hazelbaker leads the team with 4 HR and Snyder has 3 so far this season. This is a team that gets on base and can score a lot of runs.

Terry Doyle has been their best pitcher so far, throwing 24.1 IP with a 1.48 ERA/0.82 WHIP. Chris Carpenter has been a K machine, whiffing 19 in just 9.1 IP.

Edgar Gonzalez goes to the hill for the Herd tonight against Rubby De La Rosa. Knuckleballer Charlie Haeger goes tomorrow, followed by Allan Webster. The Bisons, as usual, appear to be going with the dreaded TBA.

Let's battle for 1st place.