september’s game

It’s September in the minor leagues, and the herd has been cut. Only the best teams are moving forward. The best players on those teams now get to perform in a different arena. The Mississippi Braves head into the Southern League playoffs with a passel of Atlanta prospects on the roster, and how those players fare could go a long way in determining the M-Braves’ postseason fate. The best-of-5 SL South Division series begins tonight at Pensacola with left-hander Sean Newcomb, Atlanta’s No. 3 prospect (by mlb.com), going to the mound to face Rookie Davis, Cincinnati’s seventh-best prospect. Ozzie Albies is Atlanta’s No. 2. Projected by many to be the Braves’ second baseman in 2017, Albies hit .321 in Double-A this season (and won the SL batting title with an “adjusted” average of .315). Dustin Peterson (No. 18) was an SL MVP candidate after batting .282 with 12 homers and 88 RBIs. Those two are key hitters in an M-Braves attack plagued by dry spells. With a chance to win the division title, the M-Braves scored only one run in their final two games, lost both and entered the playoffs as a wild card, meaning if there is a Game 5 in the division series, it’ll be in Pensacola. The Blue Wahoos won both halves, winning 10 of their last 11 to overtake the M-Braves in the second half. Still, the M-Braves’ pitching looks good enough to win a title. Following Newcomb (8-7, 3.86) in the posted rotation is Patrick Weigel (1-2, 2.18 in three starts) on Thursday and Max Povse (4-1, 2.93) on Friday back at Trustmark Park. Weigel is the No. 28 prospect, Povse No. 20. If there is a Game 4 in Pearl, No. 14 Lucas Sims (5-5, 2.67) will get the nod. Ten teams started out in April chasing a Southern League pennant. Four are left. Every game is big now. It’s September.