Patriots Notebook: Moylan, Arias Lead Playoff Push with 12 Games Left

Bridgewater, New Jersey – With just 12 games remaining in the regular season, the Patriots (30-27) head west to take on first-place Erie (38-19), who have a 6.5-game cushion for an automatic postseason bid at the top of the Southwest Division. Somerset enters action this week trailing Reading by 3.5 games in the Northeast Division after splitting a six-game set with Akron last week. With just two weeks remaining on the schedule, Somerset’s final push to qualify for the playoffs for a fifth consecutive season hangs in the balance.

Here is a look at the latest news, notes and storylines surrounding Somerset heading into action this week.

Bryce Cunningham (@Yankees No. 9 Prospect) FLASHING the CHANGEUP in a 2⃣-strikeout first inning! 💪 pic.twitter.com/QKI0xPnH4N

— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) August 30, 2026

Addition to the Staff: The Patriots received a boost to the rotation last week when the Yankees promoted No. 9 prospect Bryce Cunningham from Hudson Valley. The 23-year-old right-hander was the 53rd overall pick back in 2024 out of Vanderbilt and after making the first 29 appearances of his career at High-A, the organization gave Cunningham a taste of the upper levels for the first time.

After starting both the series opener and finale against Akron last week, the Alabama-native has fanned 13 batters in just 11.0 innings while posting a 1.18 WHIP. But the five home runs he has surrendered over that stretch has led to an uneven start at Double-A. Prior to his promotion, Cunningham tallied a 4.71 ERA and 1.42 WHIP with 69 K to 37 BB in 80.1 IP with Hudson Valley.

"Really happy with the execution of pitches. I thought my stuff was sharp. I think the number one thing was to throw strikes, execute and come out of it feeling good and I think that is what we accomplished."@Yankees RHP Clarke Schmidt recaps tonight's rehab start in Somerset. pic.twitter.com/VDnh9wkbIm

— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) August 30, 2026

Dual Rehabs: The Patriots hosted a rehab duo at TD Bank Ballpark on Saturday night as right-hander Clarke Schmidt joined infielder Ryan McMahon for their first live game action on the comeback trail.

Schmidt was placed on the IL back in February with right forearm tightness and had not pitched in a game this season prior to his outing on Saturday. The 30-year-old hurler underwent his second Tommy John surgery last July and has been out of live game action since. The 2017 first rounder tossed 16 of his 20 pitches for strikes while allowing two earned runs on two hits to go along with two punchouts against Akron.

“I felt good,” Schmidt said following his outing. “It has obviously been a long journey. Obviously a surgery like this, Tommy John, the rehab is no fun; it’s a long and grueling process. To be able to get back out there and compete was a lot of fun.”

McMahon saw six innings of action at third base and went 0-for-3 at the plate in his first game since landing on the shelf back on August 20 with a left thumb sprain. In 106 games this season, McMahon is slashing .216/.282/.367 with 10 home runs and 32 RBI to go with 29 runs scored.

“Got through the game with no problems,” McMahon said. “I was just pretty excited to get back out there.”

The pair became the fifth and sixth Yankees to rehab with the Patriots this season and McMahon became the 48th unique big leaguer to rehab with Somerset since the club joined the affiliated ranks of MiLB back in 2021.

Connor McGinnis FLASHES the opposite field POWER with his 10th HR at Double-A this season! 👀 pic.twitter.com/PEKXDT0Zli

— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) August 29, 2026

Patriots Power: Infielder Connor McGinnis clubbed his 11th homer of the season and 10th at Double-A on Saturday night. He joined DJ Gladney (23), Garrett Martin (21), Coby Morales (20), Jace Avina (19), Tyler Hardman (13), Josh Moylan (12) and Marco Luciano (10) as the ninth hitter to smash double-digit long balls with Somerset this season.

Josh Moylan SMASHES his @Yankees farm system leading 25th home run of the season! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/PKBBE7ryoO

— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) August 29, 2026

Moylan Mashes: Speaking of power, first baseman Josh Moylan went deep in three of the six games against Akron last week to give him a Yankees farm system-leading 25 homers this season. The 24-year-old ECU product hit seven homers in the month of August. Prior to this season, Moylan had hit only 17 homers over the first 232 games of his career.

Arias Flashes: Beyond the nightly highlight reel caliber plays that he makes defensively, infielder Roderick Arias continues to flash offensively in what has been a campaign that has firmly placed himself back on the prospect radar.

Still just 21 years old at Double-A for the first time, the Dominican-native has eclipsed his previous career-high in homers after going deep three times last week against Akron to give him 16 home runs on the season. He has driven in a career-best 78 runs and has posted his best full-season OPS mark of .803.

Knowing the Opponent: Somerset and Erie will tangle for the first and only time this season when the two clubs clash this week at UPMC Park. They may not meet often, but the two clubs have a long and storied history at this time of the year, particularly in the postseason. The Patriots famously defeated the Tigers affiliate in 2022 to capture their first and only Eastern League crown prior to the SeaWolves winning back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024, which included a sweep of Somerset to clinch the second championship.

In regular season play, Somerset is just 22-31 all-time against Erie with only one series victory to date. While the SeaWolves have a firm grasp on securing a playoff berth, the Patriots vneed a successful week on the road to stay in the thick of the playoff hunt.

Erie’s roster is headlined by Detroit’s No. 2 prospect Zyhir Hope, who the Tigers acquired from the Dodgers at the deadline as the headliner of the package that was sent in exchange for LHP Tarik Skubal. Hope, who is ranked as the No. 28 overall prospect in baseball, has posted an .867 OPS in 114 games this season while blasting 26 homers and recording 100 RBI in his first full season at Double-A.

Probable Pitchers

Tuesday 9/1: RHP Cade Smith (7-8, 4.98 ERA) vs. RHP Lucas Elissat (0-1, 2.79 ERA)

Wednesday 9/2: RHP Chase Hampton (0-5, 9.00 ERA) vs. RHP Max Alba (2-5, 6.10 ERA)

Thursday 9/3: RHP Dom Hamel (0-1, 5.93 ERA) vs. RHP Kenny Serwa (8-8, 4.21 ERA)

Friday 9/4: RHP Rory Fox (1-1, 5.03 ERA) vs. LHP Joe Miller (3-1, 3.82 ERA)

Saturday 9/5: RHP Bryce Cunningham (0-1, 7.36 ERA) vs. LHP Carlos Peña (7-4, 4.22 ERA)

Sunday 9/6: RHP Cade Smith (7-8, 4.98 ERA) vs. RHP Lucas Elissat (0-1, 2.79 ERA)

Matt Kardos | SomersetPatriots.com Senior Writer

Matt Kardos has covered the Yankees minor league system for over a decade and will spend his 14th season on the beat covering the Patriots for SomersetPatriots.com. Throughout his career, Matt has contributed to MLB.com, YES Network and Pinstriped Prospects. When he’s not at the ballpark, Matt enjoys traveling with his wife Kimberly, watching Jets football and collecting sports cards.