Review of Harrisburg Senators pitching pre-All-Star break

The Double-A Harrisburg Senators have reached the All-Star break with a 45-46 record and are six games out of the first place Bowie Baysox in the Western Division.

A review of the pitching staff in the first half revealed some good control from the Senators hurlers. Harrisburg has allowed only 214 walks pre-All-Star break, the lowest mark in the Eastern League. Their 3.46 team ERA is fifth in the league. They have worked, throwing 797 2/3 innings in the first 91 games, second most to Akron's 822 2/3 innings in the first half. Akron has the best team ERA at 3.00.

28-year-old left-hander Richard Bleier is top ten in league pitching ERA with a 2.73 mark. He has a 7-3 record in 14 games (13 starts) over 89 innings with 36 strikeouts, seven walks and only 27 earned runs allowed.

23-year-old right-hander All-Star Austin Voth also had a very good first half with a 4-5 record and a 3.06 ERA in 18 games (17 starts) over 103 innings. He has 15 strikeouts and one walk his last two starts. Overall, Voth has recorded an Eastern League-leading 98 strikeouts and 22 walks.

27-year-old right-hander Colin Bates is 4-0 with a 3.45 ERA. He has moved into the starting rotation the last four games, and has seven starts and 17 appearances this season. He has 14 strikeouts and three walks in the last four starts.

24-year-old left-handed starter Matthew Spann has gone 3-6 with a 4.43 ERA in 15 starts over 87 1/3 innings. He has 60 strikeouts and 27 walks. When asked about what he likes about Spann, Nationals pitching coordinator Paul Menhart told me it's "hard not to like a 6-foot-5 left-hander with good angle and ability to spin the ball."

24-year-old right-hander Dakota Bacus has gone 5-2 with a 3.77 ERA in 10 starts over 11 games since being promoted to Double-A Harrisburg. He was 2-0 with a 2.33 ERA for high Single-A Potomac to begin the season. For the Senators, in 62 innings he has 34 strikeouts and 18 walks.

22-year-old right-hander Joe Ross proved at the highest level he's ready with tremendous performances as a substitute starter with the Nationals. All those years having his older brother Tyson Ross as a mentor and coach paid off as Joe Ross looked calm, cool and focused at the most critical moments. He is 4-3 with a 2.79 ERA for Harrisburg this season. He has 66 strikeouts and 19 walks. He has gone 2-1 in four starts since returning to the Senators. But it is also very likely Ross will return to the Nationals sometime this season or even into a potential postseason because of his incredible stuff.

There are top relief numbers from 22-year-old right-hander All-Star Gilberto Mendez (eight saves) and 22-year-old right-hander Abel De Los Santos (six saves). Mendez has a 2.66 ERA while De Los Santos has a 2.80 ERA. De Los Santos also has a 1.20 ERA in his last 10 appearances with 15 strikeouts and one walk. Mendez has been even better, allowing no runs in his last 13 innings over 10 games. 26-year-old right-hander Sam Runion also has recorded four saves.

The Eastern League All-Star Game is July 15 at Hadlock Field in Portland, Maine. Voth, Mendez and catcher Pedro Severino will represent the Senators. Paul Demny was named an All-Star, but was promoted to Triple-A Syracuse, so Mendez took his place. Denny had a 1.64 ERA in 22 games with the Senators this season.