Patriots Notebook 9/2/25: Home Sweet Home

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. – Despite dropping four of six games to first-place Binghamton last week, Somerset (29-28) enters this week in the same exact position it was a week ago - clinging to a slim 0.5 game cushion for a postseason berth. Hartford remains within striking distance, despite dropping four of six to Portland last week, which is where the playoff race over the final two weeks of the season gets interesting. The Sea Dogs have now entered the proverbial postseason chat and are just 1.5 games behind the Patriots for a ticket into the dance with 12 games remaining.

Somerset returns home for its final regular season homestand to welcome in the last place New Hampshire Fisher Cats (21-35). The Patriots have squared off against the Blue Jays' affiliate 18 times already in 2025 and gone an astounding 16-2 against them while posting a +62-run differential.

Meanwhile, Hartford will return home to Dunkin' Park to host Reading. Despite having a 24-33 second half record, the Fightin Phils sit only five games behind the Patriots in the playoff chase with a series against them looming next week’s regular season finale. The Sea Dogs (27-29) are home at Delta Dental Park in Portland to host Erie, who has won eight of their last 10 games heading into action this week.

Here are some of the latest news, notes and storylines surrounding the Patriots heading into this week’s action.

Two-out RBI double from @Yankees No. 15 prospect Dylan Jasso!

Jasso has two RBI in three plate appearances! pic.twitter.com/ZnrGUhmiLD

— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) August 28, 2025

Jasso the Leader: Versatile infielder Dylan Jasso hit safely in five of the six games on the road in Binghamton last week and drove in the Patriots lone run in the series finale on Sunday. The 22-year-old has been a steady presence in the lineup in his first season at Double-A, having played in 115 of the teams 126 games. The Yankees No. 23 prospect, who drove home 19 runs in 26 games in August, enters the month of September leading the Eastern League in total bases (187) while rankings second in hits (119) and third in RBI (69).

Too Close for Comfort: Somerset dropped four games to first-place Binghamton last week, three of those defeats were by a margin of three runs or less. That has been the theme of the second half of the season for the club; since the All-Star break in July, 34 of the Patriots 39 games played have been decided by three runs or less and the team is 16-18 overall in those contests.

The @Yankees have announced the following roster moves:
🔹Carson Coleman – Reinstated from SWB 60-Day IL, Transferred to Somerset
🔹Geoff Gilbert and Hueston Morrill – Transferred Hudson Valley to Somerset
🔹Ryan Anderson and Luis Pacheco – Released from Minor League Contracts pic.twitter.com/U3HpFLWSq0

— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) August 20, 2025

Familiar Face Back in the Pen: Reliever Carson Coleman, who was an integral part of the 2022 Patriots team that hoisted the EL championship, picked up his first save in nearly three years for Somerset last Friday. The 27-year-old, who has now made three appearances for the Patriots this season, is back after a long and winding stretch that has cost him most of the last three seasons. After missing all of the 2023 season due to Tommy John surgery, Coleman was selected by the Rangers in the MLB phase of the Rule 5 Draft before the right-hander was forced to undergo shoulder surgery that cost him all of the 2024 season. Coleman was returned to the Yankees organization last winter and has spent much of the spring and summer rehabbing and building himself back up.

Sellers Down: Right-hander Trent Sellers, who has started a team-high 22 games this season, was placed on the 7-day IL last week. Sellers allowed a run on two hits while striking out three batters in his start before being removed after just one inning of work last Wednesday. The 25-year-old has fanned 111 batters in 96.1 innings while posting a 3.92 ERA this season.

Knowing the Opponent: Somerset has historically beaten New Hampshire more than any other team in the Eastern League since Somerset joined the league in 2021. Somerset's 57 victories all-time against Toronto's affiliate are tied with Hartford for the most over that stretch. That theme has remained true in 2025 as the Patriots have gone 16-2 against the Fisher Cats this season.

New Hampshire sits in last place in the Northeast Division with a 21-35 record and a 50-75 overall mark this season. Most of the Blue Jays' elite prospect talent is at Triple-A and in the lower levels of the minors, leaving No. 8 prospect Victor Arias as the lone top-15 prospect represented on the Fisher Cats roster.

The 22-year-old opened the season at High-A and slashed .294/.381/.818 in 66 games of action. His first taste of Double-A has been a bit of a learning curve. In 36 games since being promoted to New Hampshire on 7/18, Arias has slashed just .226/.293/.331 with 38 strikeouts and just 30 hits.

Series Pitching Probables

Tue: RHP Fernando Perez (0-2, 2.57 ERA) vs. RHP Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz (3-3, 3.18 ERA)
Wed: RHP Grant Rogers (6-8, 3.98 ERA) vs. TBD
Thu: RHP Rafael Sanchez (2-7, 5.42 ERA) vs. RHP Ben Hess (2-1, 3.16 ERA)
Fri: TBD vs. RHP Carlos Lagrange (5-6, 3.74 ERA)
Sat: RHP Alex Amalfi (5-8, 4.81 ERA) vs. LHP Brock Selvidge (2-6, 5.23 ERA)
Sun: RHP Fernando Perez (0-2, 2.57 ERA) vs. RHP Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz (3-3, 3.18 ERA)

Matt Kardos | SomersetPatriots.com Senior Writer

Matt Kardos has covered the Yankees minor league system for over a decade and will spend his 13th 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.