Playoffs? Astros Minor League Playoff Central

From coast to coast, the Astros have teams in the playoffs, well not the major league team, but minor league affiliates. The great part about this community is that we know that there are Astros fans from coast to coast....and even further (how ya doin SeoulStro?). So, there are opportunities for a good portion of y'all to catch a playoff game or two. If not, well there are definitely opportunities to listen/watch live. So, we'll go ahead and throw all the information out there so you can plan accordingly.

Oklahoma City RedHawks

vs. Omaha Storm Chasers (KC)

The RedHawks have a pair of some of the best hitting prospects in baseball in Jonathan Singleton and George Springer. However, Singleton hasn't exactly had a great season, but Springer's is well documented. The offense is the strength of this team and will have to be as it faces off against some very nice pitching prospects in Yordano Ventura and Chris Dwyer.

Pitching wise, the team will rely heavily on the rotation as the bullpen is being pieced together by bullpen arms that couldn't cut it for the big league team for the most part. Prospects like Asher Wojciechowski, Jake Buchanan, David Martinez, and Bobby Doran will need help from Jose Cisnero and Jason Stoffel to keep the runs to a minimum as Christian Colon headlines Omaha's offense.

GM 1: Wednesday September 4th at OkC

Asher Wojciechowski vs. Yordano Ventura

7:05 PM CST

GM 2: Thursday September 5th at OkC

Pitchers TBD

7:05 PM CST

GM 3: Friday September 6th at Omaha

Pitchers TBD

7:05 PM CST

GM 4 (if necessary): Saturday September 7th at Omaha

Pitchers TBD

7:05 PM CST

GM 5 (if necessary): Sunday September 8th at Omaha

Pitchers TBD

2:05 PM CST

*All Games on MiLB.tv or internet radio

Corpus Christi Hooks

vs. San Antonio Missions (Padres)

The Hooks have a strong chance in the Texas League playoffs with a strong offense fueled by the power of Domingo Santana and Preston Tucker as well as Erik Castro. The bats of Enrique Hernandez and Jonathan Meyer can bring some extra as they both carry some pop and ability to get on base at fairly good clips. Latest addition of Leonardo Heras will be relied upon to set the tone at the top of the order. Pitchers Juan Oramas and Matt Wisler headline the Missions rotation and won't make it easy.

The pitching staff is lead by Michael Foltynewicz's 100 MPH fastball and anchored by Nick Tropeano who has been on the roster all season. Both have the capability to pitch this group deep into the playoffs but will need help by recent additions to the rotation in Luis Cruz and David Rollins who have both shown some promise at the AA level. They'll face off against a group of prospects like Austin Hedges and Cory Spangenburg who have both struggled after looking quite good in the Cal League, but can rely on first baseman Tommy Medica who has power to spare.

GM 1: Wednesday September 4th at CC

Michael Foltynewicz vs Matt Wisler

7:05 PM CST

GM 2: Thursday September 5th at CC

Pitchers TBD

7:05 PM CST

GM 3: Friday September 6th at SA

Pitchers TBD

7:05 PM CST

GM 4 (if necessary): Saturday September 7th at SA

Pitchers TBD

7:05 PM CST

GM 5 (if necessary): Sunday September 8th at CC

Pitchers TBD

6:05 PM CST

*All games on MiLB.tv or internet radio

Lancaster JetHawks

vs. TBD

The JetHawks have a first round bye and will get to sit back and enjoy some time off as they await the determination of their opponents. It will either be Inland Empire 66er's (LAA) or Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (LAD).

They've lost a few arms to AA, but they still have a strong duo at the top in Aaron West and Brady Rodgers, but welcome the strong and promising arm of Vincent Velasquez. Travis Ballew is a staple in the back end of the bullpen and the pitching staff is a rare strength for the winds of Lancaster.

The offense has plenty, especially at home. Between the speed of Delino DeShields, on-base percentages of Nolan Fontana, Joe Sclafani, and Andrew Aplin, and the power of MP Cokinos, Brandon Meredith, and Dan Gulbransen, this team should be potent.

GM 1: Saturday September 7th at Lancaster

Pitchers TBD

7:00 PM PST

GM 2: Sunday September 8th at Lancaster

Pitchers TBD

5:00 PM PST

GM 3: Monday September 9th at TBD

Pitchers TBD

Time TBD

GM 4 (if necessary): Tuesday September 10th at TBD

Pitchers TBD

Time TBD

GM 5 (if necessary): Wednesday September 11th at Lancaster

Pitchers TBD

Time TBD

*Listen live to Jason Schwartz (who is the man, by the way) on internet radio

Quad Cities River Bandits

vs. Cedar Rapids Kernels (MIN)

Talk about a rotation limping into the playoffs. They've recently lost previously mentioned Vincent Velasquez and duo of pitchers shut down for the season in Lance McCullers and Mark Appel. But, Chris Devenski, Josh Hader and Joe Bircher are set to be the starters in the three game series and hope to handle the load. They'll have experienced pitchers to back them up in Brian Holmes and Andrew Walter who pitched in the playoffs for Tri-City last year. They also have Daniel Minor and this year's draftees of Zach Morton, J.D. Osborne, Patrick Christensen, and Jorge Perez. They'll have their hands full with prospects like Max Kepler, Adam Brett Walker II, and Jorge Polanco.

The offense is a prospectors dream with Carlos Correa, Rio Ruiz, Danry Vasquez, and Teoscar Hernandez. But, they'll need to be consistent and need help from Anthony Kemp at second base. The pitching staff isn't bad and headlined by Jose Berrios but have other pitchers like Brett Lee and Miguel Sulbaran who have had success as evident by their ERA's below 3.00 in over 100 innings.

GM 1: Wednesday September 4th at QC

Chris Devenski vs. Brett Lee

7:00 PM CST

GM 2: Thursday September 5th at CR

Joe Bircher vs. Miguel Sulbaran

6:35 PM CST

GM 3 (if necessary): Friday September 6th at CR

Josh Hader vs. Tim Atherton

6:35 PM CST

*Listen live on internet radio

Tri-City ValleyCats

vs TBD

The ValleyCats clinched their division last night and will begin their playoffs later in the week. The opponent hasn't been officially announced.

This is an interesting team as it's been a revolving door of pitchers througout the season and many pitchers having success but few being dominant. Michael Feliz is easily the stud of the staff but Evan Grills and Adrian Houser have been far from bad. You add in the extreme success of Kyle Westwood with his poor peripherals, and there is significant intrigue both in the rotation and in the bullpen. I mean look at the 20:1 SO:BB ratio of Gonzalo Sanudo.

When considering that TC plays in an offensive environment, the team has been disappointing power wise. But, they get on base and make pitchers work. Conrad Gregor and James Ramsay illustrate that to the tee and are dreaded by NYPL pitchers for it.

GM 1: Friday, September 6th

GM 2: Saturday, September 7th

GM 3 (if needed): Sunday, September 8th

*Listen live on internet radio

Greeneville Astros

vs. Pulaski Mariners

The playoffs have already started, and in fact, are already moving on to the championship series. They have already won the divisional playoffs against the Kingsport Mets, two games to one. They will now face off against Pulaski Mariners.

The team has a few exciting arms as well as some exciting bats. The team is constructed a little differently this year with a few older prospects. They have a handful of college draftees as well as several high school draftees that have been in the system for a year or two. Jandel Gustave and Chris Lee may be the best on the pitching staff while Brett Phillips, Brian Holberton, Ariel Ovando, and Chase McDonald are the best of the bats.

GM 1: Wednesday, September 4th at Greeneville

Pitchers TBD

Time TBD

GM 2: Thursday, September 5th at Pulaski

Pitchers TBD

7:00 PM EST

GM 3 (if needed): Friday, September 6th at Pulaski

Pitchers TBD

7:00 PM EST

*All games live on internet radio