Hometown Heroes: Vargas ties for majors lead in wins; Bregman, LeMahieu lead playoff runs

It has been a banner year for former LSU pitcher Jason Vargas.

First, Vargas had a big first half of the season and earned an American League All-Star game appearance. Then, after a bit of a slump, Vargas is finishing with a flourish.

He has won his last four games, including a 2-1 victory over Detroit Tuesday night in which Vargas pitched six innings, allowing one run on five hits with three strikeouts to improve to 18-10 with a 3.94 ERA. The 18 wins tie him with Cleveland ace Corey Kluber for the most wins in the league and in the majors as Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers also has 18 wins.

It has been a banner year for the Houston Astros and former LSU All-American Alex Bregman has played a large role in the Astros’ success.

Houston clinched home field advantage for the American League Division Series playoffs with a convincing 14-3 win against the Texas Rangers Tuesday night.

Bregman had three hits and two RBI to help key the win. He is batting .284 with 37 doubles, five triples, 17 home runs, 64 RBI and 17 stolen bases as he continues to become a complete player for Houston. He has a four-game hit streak (7-for-16/.437).

Former Parkway High and Centenary star Seth Lugo pitched a gem for the New York Mets, hurling six shutout innings, allowing just two hits while striking out seven in a 3-2 win in a 3-2 win over the Braves Monday night. Lugo is now 7-5 on the season with a bad team, a good mark.

D.J. LeMahieu is a primary reason that Colorado is leading in the race for the final wild card playoff berth in the National League.

The former LSU standout has backed up his National League batting championship with another fine season. He is batting .311 with 28 doubles, four triples, eight home runs and 64 RBI for the Rockies.

Also helping the Colorado drive for the playoffs is former UL-Lafayette catcher Jonathan Lucroy, who has raised his average to .301 with a four-game hit streak (7-for-14/.500).

Former Hamilton Christian and McNeese star Jace Peterson has a four-game hit streak (4-for-11/.364) for Atlanta, including his second home run of the season.

In the midst of an injury-plagued season, former Tulane slugger Rob Segedin had a big game for the Los Angeles Dodgers Monday night, going 2-for-4 with a double and his first RBI in a 9-3 win over San Diego.

Major Leagues
Alex Bregman—Astros (LSU) .284, 37 doubles, 5 triples, 17 HR, 64 RBI, 17 SB
Clay Buchholz—Phillies (McNeese St.) 2G, 0-1, 12.27 ERA, 7.1 INN, 5 K’s (60-day D.L.)
Danny Farquhar—White Sox (UL Lafayette) 13G, 1-0, 4.97 ERA, 12.2 INN, 11 H, 9 K’s
Kevin Gausman—Orioles (LSU)  33G, 11-11, 4.81 ERA, 179.2 INN, 170 K’s
Gavin Cecchini—Mets (Barbe) 30G, .205 (15-for-73), 2 doubles, 1 HR, 7 RBI
Nick Goody—Indians (LSU) 54G, 1-2 2.70 ERA, 53.1 INN, 37 H, 72 K’s
Will Harris—Astros (Slidell, LSU)  44G, 3-2, 3.12 ERA, 2 SV, 43.1 NN,  36 H, 49 K’s
**Aaron Hill—Giants (LSU) .132, 2 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR, 7 RBI (Released)
*TJ House—Blue Jays (Slidell) 2G, 0-0, 4.50 ERA, 2 INN, 1 K (Designated for assignment)
James Hoyt—Astros (Centenary) 42G, 1-0, 4.50 ERA, 48 INN, 66 K’s
Jacoby Jones—Tigers (LSU) .156, 3 doubles, 1 triple, 3 HR, 12 RBI, 5 SB
Wade LeBlanc—Pirates (Barbe) 49G, 5-2, 4.52 ERA, 1 SV, 67.2 INN, 64 H, 63 K’s
DJ LeMahieu—Rockies (LSU) .311, 28 doubles, 4 triples, 8 HR, 64 RBI, 6 SB
Aaron Loup—Blue Jays (Hahnville, Tulane) 65G, 2-3, 4.02 ERA, 53.2 INN, 59 K’s
Jonathan Lucroy—Rockies (UL Lafayette) .301, 5 doubles, 3 triple, 2 HR, 12 RBI
Seth Lugo—Mets (Parkway, Centenary) 17G, 6-5, 5.03 ERA, 91.1 INN, 74 K’s
Mikie Mahtook—Tigers (St. Thomas More, LSU) .276, 15 doubles, 6 triples, 12 HR, 38 RBI, 6 SB
Phil Maton—Padres (Louisiana Tech) 45G, 3-1, 4.01 ERA, 1 SV, 42.2 INN, 40 H, 45 K’s
Wade Miley–Orioles (Loranger, SLU)  31G, 8-14, 5.52 ERA, 153.1 INN, 136 K’s
Logan Morrison—Rays (Northshore) .241, 20 doubles, 1 triple, 37 HR, 83 RBI
Aaron Nola—Phillies (Catholic, LSU)  27G, 12-11, 3.54 ERA, 168 INN, 154 H, 184 K’s
Alex Presley—Detroit (Neville) .317, 10 doubles, 2 triples, 2 HR, 17 RBI, 5 SB
Jace Peterson—Braves (Hamilton Christian, McNeese) .219, 9 doubles, 2 triples, 2 HR, 17 RBI
Rob Segedin—Dodgers  (Tulane) 10G, .2.11 (4-for-19), 2 doubles, 1 RBI
Andrew Stevenson—Nationals (St. Thomas More, LSU) 36G, .158 (9-for-57), 2 doubles, 1 RBI
Stuart Turner—Reds (Eunice, LSU-E) .135 (10-for-74), 3 doubles, 2 HR, 7 RBI
Jason Vargas—Royals (LSU) 31G, 18-10, 3.94 ERA, 175.2 INN, 175 H, 130 K’s
Taijuan Walker—Diamondbacks (Shreveport) 27G, 9-9, 3.54 ERA, 152.1 INN, 145 H, 140 K’s
**Rickie Weeks Jr.—Rays (Southern) .216, 6 doubles, 2 HR, 8 RBI (Released)

Class AAA
Jeremy Bleich—Oklahoma City (Newman) 31G, 5-3, 3.22 ERA, 3 SV, 50.1 INN, 45 H, 43 K
Brian Bogusevic—Pawtucket (Tulane) .278, 15 doubles, 2 triples, 12 HR, 40 RBI, 4 SB
Reid Brignac—Fresno (St. Amant) .251, 17 doubles, 3 triple, 13 HR, 52 RBI, 4 SB
Joe Broussard—Oklahoma City (Holy Cross, LSU)  44G, 4-1, 3.57 ERA, 3 SV, 58 INN, 57 H, 67 K’s
Wil Browning—Buffalo (ULM) 39G, 4-3, 6.55 ERA, 1 SV, 57.2 INN,  57 K’s
Joey Butler—Syracuse (UNO) .215, 3 doubles, 2 HR, 8 RBI  (7-day D.L.)
Garin Cecchini—Omaha (Barbe) .261, 19 doubles, 2 triple, 4 HR, 32 RBI
J.T. Chargois—Rochester (Sulphur)  2G, 0-0, 1 SV, 2.2 INN, 1 H, 2 K’s (7-day D.L.)
Preston Claiborne—Round Rock (Tulane) 38G, 3-1, 1.89 ERA, 16 SV, 38 INN, 37 H, 42 K’s (7-day D.L.)
*Louis Coleman—Reno (LSU) 25G, 2-1, 2.30 ERA, 27.1 INN, 16 H, 33 K’s (Released)
James Dykstra—Round Rock (LSU) 21G, 2-9, 7.33 ERA, 73.2 INN, 51 K’s
Johnny Giavotella—Norfolk (St. Thomas More, LSU) .306, 22 doubles, 4 triple, 5 HR, 45 RBI, 4 SB (7-day D.L.)
James Hoyt—Astros (Centenary) 13G, 2-0, 1.93 ERA, 2 SV, 14 INN, 10 H, 18 K’s
Tyler Jones—Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (LSU) 44G, 6-4, 4.38 ERA, 3 SV, 63.2 INN, 61 H, 76 K’s
Mason Melotakis—Rochester (Northwestern State) 21G, 2-0, 4.07 ERA, 1 SV, 24.1 INN, 22 H, 23 K’s
*Jim Miller—Rochester (ULM)  Has not pitched
**Jared Mortensen—Fresno (LSU-S) 3G, 0-0, 13.50 ERA, 4.2 INN, 4 K’s (Released)
Austin Nola—New Orleans  29G, .202 (18-for-89), 4 doubles, 1 HR, 6 RBI
Nick Rumbelow—LSU  17G, 5-1, 0.62 ERA, 5 SV, 29 INN, 16 H, 30 K’s
Ryan Schimpf–El Paso (St. Paul’s, LSU) .202, 7 doubles, 1 triple, 19 HR, 44 RBI
Kade Scivicque—Gwinnett (St. Thomas More, LSU) 24G, .272 (22-for-81), 2 doubles, 2 HR,  11 RBI
Andrew Stevenson—Syracuse (St. Thomas More, LSU) .252, 7 doubles, 4 triples, 2 HR, 26 RBI, 10 SB
Josh Zeid—Memphis (Tulane) 33G, 9-4, 5.19 ERA, 102.1 INN, 95 K’s

Class AA
**Caleb Adams—Mobile (UL Lafayette)  .196, 1 double, 1 HR, 3 RBI   (Released)
Tyler Bray—Springfield (ULM)  37G, 8-0, 2.92 ERA, 2 SV,  52.2 INN, 49 H, 46 K’s
Eric Carter—Springfield (UL Lafayette) 9G, 0-0, 0.77 ERA, 4 SV, 11.2 INN, 9 H, 16 K’s
Ryan Eades—Chattanooga (Northshore, LSU) 28G, 4-3, 3.63 ERA, 79.1 INN, 59 H 58 K’s
Ian Gibaut—Montgomery (Tulane) 43G, 6-1, 2.22 ERA, 10 SV, 52.2 INN, 33 H, 63 K
Andrew Guillotte—New Hampshire (Sam Houston, McNeese) .244, 4 doubles, 1 triple, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 8 SB
Jordan Harrison—Montgomery (UL-Lafayette) 53G, 3-3, 3.28 ERA, 2 SV, 57.2 INN, 43 H, 49 K’s
**Brock Hebert—Arkansas (South Terrebonne, SLU) .171, 1 double, 2 HR, 6 RBI (Released)
**Leon Landry—Pensacola (Baker, LSU) .198, 3 doubles, 2 triples, 3 RBI (Released)
Randy LeBlanc—Chattanooga (Covington, Tulane) 19G, 5-4, 3.99 ERA, 79 INN, 49 K’s
Tyler Mapes—Harrisburg (Tulane) 7-day DL
Tyler Moore—Binghamton (LSU) 29G, .188 (12-for-64), 3 doubles, 7 RBI
Tanner Rainey—Pensacola (St. Paul’s, SLU) 14G, 1-1, 1.59 ERA, 4 SV, 17 INN, 8 H, 27 K’s
Austin Ross—Pensacola (Captain Shreve, LSU) 18G, 9-0, 1.87 ERA, 101.1 INN, 86 H, 68 K’s
Tate Scioneaux—Altoona (Riverside, SLU) 47G, 6-5, 2.39 ERA, 14 SV, 83 INN, 67 H, 67 K’s
Blake Trahan—Pensacola (Kinder, UL Lafayette) .222, 18 doubles, 2 HR, 27 RBI, 12 SB
Jacob Waguespack—Reading (Dutchtown) 7G, 3-2, 3.65 ERA, 37 INN, 37 H, 35 K’s
Justin Williams—Montgomery (Terrebonne) .301, 21 doubles, 3 triples, 14 HR, 72 RBI, 6 SB

Class A
Stephen Alemais—Bradenton (Tulane) .317, 6 doubles, 1 HR, 20 RBI, 5 SB
Luis Anguizola—Fort Wayne (Loyola) 1G, .500 (1-2), 1 R (7-day D.L.)
Adam Atkins—Columbia (La. Tech) 23G, 3-0, 0.86 ERA, 31.1 INN, 23 H, 29 K’s  (7-day D.L.)
Grant Borne—Potomac (Catholic-BR, Nicholls) 14G, 4-4, 2.50 ERA, 2 SV, 72 INN, 60 H, 60 K’s (7-day D.L.)
Brayden Bouchey—Vancouver (ULM) 24G, 1-1, 4.20 ERA, 30 INN, 20 H, 36 K’s
Ben Braymer—Hagerstown (Catholic High/LSU-Eunice) 7G, 3-2, 5.26 ERA, 37.2 INN, 37 K’s
Braden Bristo—Charleston (Ouachita Christian/LA Tech) 6G, 1-1, 3.97 ERA, 3 SV, 11.1 INN, 10 K’s
Parker Bugg—Greensboro (LSU) 18G, 2-3, 5.04 ERA, 1 SV, 30.1 INN, 35 K’s (7-day D.L.)
Dylan Burdeaux—West Michigan (West Monroe) .260, 10 doubles, 1 triple, 2 HR, 22 RBI
**David Burkhalter—Wisconsin (Ruston) 10G, 0-4, 6.75 ERA, 1 SV, 32 INN, 18 K’s (Released)
**Domenick Carlini—Cedar Rapids (SLU) 17G, 4-8, 5.18 ERA, 83.1 INN, 66 K’s (Voluntary retired list)
Kyle Cedotal—Boise (Denham Springs, SLU) 22G, 0-2, 3.20 ERA, 2 SV, 39.1 INN, 23 K’s
Chris Chinea—Palm Beach (LSU) .260, 24 doubles, 6 HR, 48 RBI
Zach Clark—Wisconsin (Springfield) .176 (16-for-91), 4 doubles, 1 triple, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 4 SB
Andro Cutura—Cedar Rapids (Pearl River, SLU) 7-day DL
Ryan Deemes—Buies Creek (Holy Cross, Nicholls) 6G, 2-0, 5.40 ERA, 2 SV, 10 INN, 14 K’s (7-day D.L.)
Greg Deichmann—Vermont Lake (Brother Martin, LSU) .283, 10 doubles, 4 triples, 30 HR, RBI, 4 SB
Phillip Diehl—Charleston (LA Tech) 28G, 9-3, 3.16 ERA, 2 SV, 85.1 INN, 76 H, 101 K’s
Jose De Leon—Charlotte (Southern) 4G, 1-0, 1.88 ERA, 14.1 INN, 11 H, 18 K’s (7-day D.L.)
Kameron Esthay—Auburn (Sam Houston) .275, 12 doubles, 1 triple, 5 HR, 30 RBI, 4 SB
Jameson Fisher—Winston-Salem (Zachary, SLU) .221, 16 doubles, 1 triple, 7 HR, 32 RBI
Kaleb Fontenot—Hickory (Sacred Heart-VP, McNeese) 41G, 5-4, 3.06 ERA, 6 SV, 85.1 INN, 66 H, 96 K’s
Jared Foster—Inland Empire (Barbe, LSU) .275, 7 doubles, 1 triple, 4 HR, 18 RBI, 4 SB (7-day D.L.)
Trent Giambrone—Myrtle Beach (Grace King) .242, 15 doubles, 12 HR, 44 RBI, 7 SB
Taylor Guilbeau—Potomac (Zachary) 23G, 4-5, 5.89 ERA, 99.1 INN, 78 K’s
Evan Guillory—Palm Beach (Jennings, ULL) 1G, 0-1, 5.14 ERA, 7 INN, 7 H, 4 R, 7 K’s
**Conner Hale—Boise (LSU) .224, 2 doubles, 1 RBI  (Released)
Nate Harris—Boise (Louisiana Tech) 12G, 1-1, 4.60 ERA, 15.2 INN, 21 K’s
Nick Hartman—Dunedin (LSU-Eunice)  4G, 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 SV 7.1 INN, 0 H, 5 K’s
Nick Heath—Wilmington (Northwestern State) .250, 7 doubles, 1 HR, 12 RBI, 21 SB
Chaz Hebert—Tampa (Breaux Bridge) 7G, 2-1, 5.27 ERA, 27.1 INN, 19 K’s (7-day D.L.)
Taylor Henry—Columbia (Airline, Centenary) 39G, 4-0, 4.33 ERA, 1 SV,  60.1 INN, 39 K’s
Kyle Keller—Greensboro (Jesuit, SLU)  36G, 2-0, 2.28 ERA, 8 SV, 67 INN, 50 H, 86 K’s
Mark Laird—Clearwater (Ouachita Parish, LSU) .286, 15 doubles, 5 triples, 2 HR, 27 RBI, 11 SB
Josh Magee—Tri-City (Franklinton) .218, 4 doubles, 1 triple, 9 RBI, 7 SB
Wyatt Marks—Vermont Lake (St. Thomas More/ULL) 11G, 3-0, 2.68 ERA, 37 INN, 29 H, 49 K’s
Adam Oller—West Virginia (Northwestern State) 16G, 5-3, 1.74 ERA, 1 SV, 41.1 INN, 29 H, 44 K’s
Michael Papierski—Tri-City (LSU) .198, 5 doubles, 1 triple, 5 HR, 18 RBI
Jared Poche’—Vermont Lake (Lutcher, LSU) 1G, 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 INN, 2 K’s (60-day D.L.)
Robbie Podorsky—Tri-City (Dutchtown, Delgado, McNeese) .302, 6 doubles, 2 triples, 1 HR, 13 RBI, 16 SB
Kramer Robertson—Peoria (LSU) .270, 12 doubles, 3 HR, 13 RBI, 10 SB
Austin Robichaux—Inland Empire (Notre Dame, UL-Lafayette) 23G, 6-9, 6.80 ERA, 94 INN, 64 K’s
Colin Rodgers—Wilmington (Parkview Baptist) 22G, 2-6, 4.36 ERA, 88.2 INN, 81 K’s
Jake Rogers—Lakeland (Tulane) .143, (1-for-7)
Ty Ross—San Jose (LSU) Restricted List
Steven Sensley—Charleston (University High, ULL) .259, 5 doubles, 4 HR, 22 RBI  (7-day D.L.)
Trevor Simms—Kane County (Tulane) 23G, 3-3, 2.87 ERA, 4 SV, 30.1 INN, 28 K’s
Riley Smith—Kane County (LSU) 14G, 3-1, 3.07 ERA, 58.2 INN, 49 K’s
Jesse Stallings—Dayton (Grant, LSU)  45G, 1-4, 4.57 ERA, 1 SV, 63 INN, 39 K’s
Tyree Thompson—Spokane (Karr) 13G, 5-1, 3.15 ERA, 68.2 INN, 63 H, 44 K’s
Nick Thurman—Clinton (Belle Chasse, UL Lafayette) .235, 11 doubles, 1 triple, 5 HR, 27 RBI, 4 SB
Stefan Trosclair—Peoria (Sulphur, LSU-E, UL Lafayette) .272 18 doubles, 6 triples, 15 HR, 59 RBI, 14 SB
John Valek, III—Boise (LSU) 16G, 3-6, 5.84 ERA, 61.2 INN, 32 K’s
Chase Vallot—Wilmington (St. Thomas More) .231, 22 doubles, 12 HR, 37 RBI (7-day D.L.)
Jake Winston—Kane County (Vidalia) 36G, 1-2, 4.27 ERA, 4 SV, 46.1 INN, 45 H, 38 K’s

Rookie

Ted Andrews—AZL White Sox (Tulane) 13G, 0-0, 2.25 ERA, 12 INN, 7 H, 10 K’s
Reagan Bazar—AZL Giants (ULL) 13G, 3-1, 4.43 ERA, 22.1 INN, 17 K’s
Carson Crites—Elizabethton (SLU) .300, 11 doubles, 4 HR, 30 RBI, 4 SB
Brent Diaz—AZL Brewers (Louisiana Tech) .368 (21-for-57), 6 doubles, 1 triple, 9 RBI, 4 SB
Patrick Duester—Ogden (Tulane) 18G, 3-3, 3.12 ERA, 1 SV, 34.2 INN, 29 H, 30 K’s
Blayne Enlow—GCL Twins (St. Amant) 6G, 3-0, 1.33 ERA, 20.1 INN, 10 H, 19 K’s
Jake Fraley—GCL Rays (LSU) 4G, .467 (7-for-15), 3 doubles,1 HR, 2 RBI
Raphael Gladu—Kingsport (Louisiana Tech) .269, 5 doubles, 1 triple, 2 HR, 14 RBI
Evan Guillory—Johnson City (Jennings, ULL) 16G, 2-1, 2.80 ERA, 45 INN, 41 H, 35 K’s
Tyler James—AZL Royals (Salmen) .258, 8 doubles, 5 triples, 10 RBI, 31 SB
Kolton Kendrick—Elizabethton (Oak Forest) .231, 6 doubles, 4 HR, 18 RBI
Hunter Kiel—AZL White Sox (LSU) 12G, 0-0, 8.18 ERA, 11 INN, 11 H, 16 K’s
Collin Kober—AZL Mariners (Sam Houston, McNeese State) 13G, 3-3, 3.06 ERA, 3 SV, 17.2 INN, 12 H, 21 K’s
Alex Lange—AZL Cubs (LSU) 4G, 0-1, 4.82 ERA, 9.1 INN, 9 H, 13 K’s
Jake Latz—AZL Rangers (LSU) 2G, 0-1, 6.75 ERA, 2.2 INN, 5 K’s
Jacob Pearson—AZL Angels (West Monroe) .226, 7 doubles, 1 triple, 13 RBI, 5 SB
Tanner Raiburn—GCL Red Sox (Grambling) 16G, 1-1,43.12 ERA, 4 SV, 19.2 INN, 15 H, 16 K’s
Mac Sceroler—Billings (Denham Springs, SLU) 12G, 0-4, 3.26 ERA, 38.2 INN, 37 H, 44 K’s
Shawn Semple—GCL Yankees East (UNO) 13G, 4-0, 1.00 ERA, 2 SV, 18 INN, 16 H, 22 K’s
Cole Stapler—Missoula Osprey (Dutchtown, Nicholls) 14G, 1-2, 2.83 ERA, 1 SV, 35 INN, 28 H, 41 K’s
Brandon Texiera—Helena (LSU-Shreveport) 16G, 0-1, 5.86 ERA, 1 SV, 27.2 INN, 23K’s

Mexico

Matt Clark—Acereros del Norte (LSU) .277, 23 doubles, 21 HR, 75 RBI
Chad Gaudin—Acereros del Norte (Crescent City) 43G, 2-3, 2.93 ERA, 29 SV, 43 INN, 52 K’s
Santos Saldivar—Pericos de Puebla (Southern) 23G, 0-2, 7.86 ERA, 26.1 INN, 25 K’s (Reserve List)

**If you have any additions, please send to ken@crescentcitysports.com