Four Trends from Reading's Series Against Chesapeake

(Bowie, MD) — The Reading Fightin Phils split a six-game set against the Chesapeake Baysox, the Double-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. Reading took one game in both doubleheaders and won the series finale Sunday, entering the All-Star break.

Here are four intriguing trends that stick out from the Fightin Phils series against Chesapeake:

Starting stars

Reading’s starting pitching posted another stellar week. The trio of Jean Cabrera, Chuck King and Griff McGarry has become a force to be reckoned with, as they combined for 16.0 innings of work while allowing just three total runs. Cabrera picked up a win while King and McGarry were left with no decisions.

As the Phillies’ No. 12 prospect and fourth-ranked pitcher, Cabrera took the mound in game one of Saturday’s doubleheader and dominated. He tallied six strikeouts and allowed just three hits in 6.0 innings, giving up a run in the first inning and no more the rest of the way. His stellar start put Reading in a prime position to snag a victory. The Fightin Phils held a 3-1 lead entering the seventh, and final inning due to the doubleheader, and Jaydenn Estanista closed the door despite allowing a run.

King and McGarry had similar success against the Baysox despite not finishing with a personal victory. King started Friday’s 3-2 loss and gave up only one run and three hits in 6.0 innings. His six strikeouts were spectacular, but even impressive was that King didn’t walk any batters. It was the second time he’s walked zero batters in his last three starts. McGarry pitched the second game of Thursday’s doubleheader and allowed one run and two hits in 4.0 innings. The bullpen then cruises through the final three innings to earn the win for Reading.

All three starters enter the All-Star break on torrid paces. Cabrera has a 3.47 ERA with a team-high 85 strikeouts in 90.2 innings. King has four wins and 62 strikeouts in 79.2 innings after transitioning to a starting role. McGarry holds a 3.33 ERA in 27.0 innings, striking out batters at an 11.0 SO/9 rate.

Limited walks

The Fightin Phils have proven throughout 2025 to be a squad with patience at the plate, often resulting in a surplus of walks to reach base. Reading has ranked in the top half of the Eastern League in walks most of the season. The trend went in an altered direction in Chesapeake.

The Phillies’ Double-A affiliate recorded only 17 walks in six games this week, tied for second-to-last in the league with Altoona, Erie and Portland. Only Harrisburg had fewer at 15. The tally could be limited due to playing four seven-inning games, missing out on eight innings. But the Baysox finished fifth in the Eastern League standings in walks this week despite a few less innings.

Reading started the series in a poor position, walking only once in Thursday’s opener. Leandro Pineda’s singular walk was hard pressed to even out the squad’s overall 10 strikeouts. The Fightin Phils then walked five times in the nightcap, helping to an eight-run win. They added four more walks Friday and three in Saturday’s first game, with Phillies’ No. 2 prospect Aidan Miller leading with two. The second game featured one walk and Sunday had just two.

Miller finished the week with a team-high four walks and Pineda was right behind him at three. Of 14 batters with an at-bat against the Baysox, 10 recorded at least one walk. But when balancing with 51 strikeouts, three times their walk total, the Fightin Phils needed more free passes.

Striking out the side

Striking out batters hasn’t been the Fightin Phils' pitching staff’s top talent this season. Their crafty pitchers most times force soft contact to work out of innings. In Chesapeake, it was swing and miss pitches that found success.

Reading ranked second in the Eastern League in strikeouts this week with 55, one short of Somerset’s league-high 56. The Fightin Phils rank eighth in the league in strikeouts on the year at 718, but have improved as of late with 209 in the last 30 days, fourth in the league.

Cabrera, King and McGarry deserve lots of credit for the high strikeout rate, but other starters and bullpen pieces were also key contributors. Mitch Neunborn recorded six strikeouts in 3.2 innings while Estibenzon Jimenez put out five in 5.0 innings.

All 16 pitchers who appeared for Reading recorded at least one strikeout this week. The squad’s SO/9 ratio ranked first in the Eastern League at 11.08, a sign of the team’s recent strength in league play.

Fergalicious

Out of the George Washington University in 2022, Cade Fergus was an intriguing 13th-round selection with plenty of upside. His defensive success in the outfield, mixed with power at the plate, has helped him move through Philadelphia’s organization. In Chesapeake, Fergus turned in one of his best weeks in 2025.

He batted an impressive .417 with a 1.212 OPS in four games and 12 at-bats versus the Baysox. The tally included five hits, with a double and a home run highlighting a ridiculous .750 slugging mark. Fergus’ four RBI tied for the team-high and he recorded one walk despite striking out six times, making up nearly every out recorded on the week.

While not starting the first game of the series on Thursday, he helped Reading to a 9-1 thumping in game two with two hits and a home run. Out of the nine-hole, Fergus slashed a grand slam to break the game open from a 5-0 lead to 9-0 in the fifth inning. The home run increased the Fightin Phils’ winning percentage to 99.6%. He recorded a single and a walk the next night and a single in his performance in game two Saturday. He finished the series with another single in the series finale.

Fergus’s big week increases his batting average to .200 on the year, a total he’d likely hope to improve as the season goes on. His ability to hit for power has him at a .761 OPS on the year. Despite lower numbers than most, Fergus’s success looks to be a sign of more improvements to come.

The Fightin Phils return to the field on Friday at 7 p.m. against the Portland Sea Dogs. Pregame radio coverage is underway at 6:45 p.m. on the Reading Fightin Phils Radio Network. A video stream is available via MiLB TV or the Bally Live App.

The Fightin Phils return home from Friday, July 18, through Sunday July 27. July 18-20 will feature a matchup against the Portland Sea Dogs, Double-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. Friday night will showcase fireworks, thanks to PA Virtual Charter School, Alvernia University, Members 1st Federal Credit Union and Berks Technical Institute. It will also feature an appearance by Swoggle, with VIP tickets available. Saturday is a Carpenter MEGA Blast Fireworks Show, presented by Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center, honoring Emergency Responders; and its also a tribute to Margaritaville, with the R-Phils wearing special Margaritaville Jerseys. The series ends Sunday when the first 2,000 kids get an Alec Bohm R-Phils Jersey T-Shirt, thanks to Rotary House Print Works. Tickets are available at rphils.com/tickets, by calling 610-370-BALL or at the Customers Bank Ticket Office.

The 2025 R-Phils season is presented by Pepsi. Follow the Fightin Phils on Twitter @ReadingFightins, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Instagram @Fightins.