{"id":682431,"date":"2026-04-25T12:24:44","date_gmt":"2026-04-25T12:24:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/682431\/"},"modified":"2026-04-25T12:24:44","modified_gmt":"2026-04-25T12:24:44","slug":"saint-josephs-gaines-earns-national-recognition-as-postseason-races-tighten-across-region-philadelphia-baseball-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/682431\/","title":{"rendered":"Saint Joseph\u2019s Gaines earns national recognition as postseason races tighten across region ~ Philadelphia Baseball Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"College<\/a><\/p>\n

PHILADELPHIA — Saint Joseph\u2019s has leaned on its bullpen all spring, and this week, one of its most important pieces earned national recognition.<\/p>\n

Senior right-hander Andrew Gaines was named to the midseason watch list for the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award, an honor presented annually by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association to the top relief pitcher in Division I. <\/p>\n

Gaines has pitched like it. <\/p>\n

A Marlton, New Jersey native, he has recorded seven saves across 16 appearances, anchoring the back end of Saint Joseph\u2019s bullpen with a 3-1 record and a 2.45 ERA over 22 innings. The underlying numbers tell the story\u201435 strikeouts, a 14.32 K\/9 rate, and a .153 opponent batting average. When the Hawks hand him the ball late, the game tends to end. <\/p>\n

That reliability has helped position Saint Joseph\u2019s atop the Atlantic 10 heading into a critical stretch. The Hawks carry a five-game lead over VCU in the race for the regular-season title, with 12 games remaining, including a key home series against the Rams in early May. <\/p>\n

First, though, comes a familiar test. <\/p>\n

Saint Joseph\u2019s opens a weekend series Friday against La Salle, a local rival that has a history of tightening games, regardless of the standings. For a team with championship aspirations, these are the series that demand execution. <\/p>\n

Elsewhere, the postseason picture is tightening. <\/p>\n

At the Division III level, Swarthmore enters one of its most important weekends of the season. Sitting at 7-8 in the Centennial Conference, the Garnet are one game behind both Ursinus and Gettysburg for the final tournament spot. <\/p>\n

The path forward won\u2019t be easy. <\/p>\n

Swarthmore hosts Haverford on Friday before traveling to Maryland for a doubleheader against second-place McDaniel (10-5) on Saturday. It\u2019s the kind of weekend that can define a season\u2014either pulling the Garnet into the postseason picture or leaving them needing help. <\/p>\n

They\u2019ll be watching the scoreboard. <\/p>\n

Ursinus opens with Muhlenberg before facing top-seeded Johns Hopkins in a Saturday doubleheader, a stretch that could reshape the standings. Gettysburg remains in the mix, making this a three-team race that may come down to the final weekend. <\/p>\n

In the MAC Commonwealth, the margins are just as thin. <\/p>\n

Widener (12-6) has already secured a postseason berth, but Eastern (8-10) is still chasing one. At one game out with three remaining, the Eagles will get their chance directly\u2014one game Friday and a doubleheader Sunday against Widener. <\/p>\n

The equation is simple: win, and hope for help. A sweep, combined with losses by York or Hood, could be enough to push Eastern into the tournament field.<\/p>\n

Recent Philly | Phillies Baseball News | Philadelphia Baseball Review<\/p>\n

Saint Joseph\u2019s Gaines earns national recognition as postseason races tighten across region<\/a> (April 24)
\n Phillies show fight but can\u2019t finish as losing streak reaches nine<\/a> (April 24)
\n Phillies release Taijuan Walker, but at 8-16, the questions aren\u2019t going away<\/a> (April 23)
\n Phillies spiral continues as Taijuan Walker\u2019s struggles force a looming decision<\/a> (April 23)
\n Saint Joseph\u2019s claims Liberty Bell Classic title behind Beggy, Sweeney at Citizens Bank Park<\/a> (April 22)
\n Phillies\u2019 spiral deepens in 7-4 loss at Wrigley: Walks, missed moments, and a season slipping<\/a> (April 22)
\n Swingman Classic comes to Philadelphia: MLB\u2019s All-Star stage expands its future<\/a> (April 21)
\n Phillies fall to 8\u201315 as Nola struggles, offense goes hitless again with RISP in loss to Cubs<\/a> (April 20)
\n Shurtleff dominates, Gale explodes as weekly honors spotlight Penn, Saint Joseph\u2019s<\/a> (April 20)
\n Swarthmore stuns No. 4 Johns Hopkins, throws Centennial race into chaos<\/a> (April 20)
\n Saint Joseph\u2019s takes control, West Chester responds, and the postseason picture tightens across Philly college baseball<\/a> (April 20)
\n Phillies\u2019 early slide exposes a larger problem: This isn\u2019t just a slow start<\/a> (April 20)
\n Reyes delivers a spark, but Phillies\u2019 sloppy third inning extends slide to four straight losses<\/a> (April 18)
\n Phillies booed off field as problems mount in 9-0 loss to Braves<\/a> (April 17)
\n Gwynedd Mercy wins tight one, Widener rallies as postseason picture tightens<\/a> (April 17)
\n West Chester sweeps twin bill, moves into first place in PSAC East<\/a> (April 17)
\n Friday Philly Division I Recap: Saint Joseph’s let late lead slip, while Penn falls at Princeton<\/a> (April 17)
\n Friday Preview: Multiple Philly Division-III programs are chasing conference tournament berths, including Swarthmore, Arcadia, and Eastern<\/a> (April 17)
\n Friday Preview: West Chester in tight PSAC East race as postseason picture sharpens, plus notes on Jefferson, Holy Family, and Chestnut Hill<\/a> (April 17)
\n Friday Preview: Saint Joseph\u2019s surging in A-10 play; Penn heads into Ivy road test at Princeton<\/a> (April 17)
\n Phillies struggles bring a familiar reality that accountability is coming<\/a> (April 16)
\n Phillies overmatched by Imanaga, fall to Cubs 11-2 as early home struggles mount<\/a> (April 16)
\n Phillies face new MLB reality as Kevin McGonigle extension signals shift in how teams build<\/a> (April 15)
\n Phillies unravel in sixth inning as Mayza falters in 10-4 loss to Cubs<\/a> (April 15)
\n COLLEGE BASEBALL: Eastern erupts for 10 unanswered runs, reaches 22 wins in rout of Delaware Valley<\/a> (April 15)
\n It\u2019s early, but a Philly All-Star storyline is already brewing around Kevin McGonigle<\/a> (April 13)
\n Schwarber powers Phillies as offense shows signs of life in win over Cubs<\/a> (April 13)
\n Phillies vs. Cubs Preview: Pitching matchups, Harper\u2019s \u201cbad baseball\u201d warning, and what to watch<\/a> (April 13)
\n Primrose, Coyne power contenders as Saint Joseph\u2019s, Penn hold steady in conference races<\/a> (April 13)
\n COLLEGE BASEBALL: Spaventa\u2019s walk-off caps Penn rally, completes sweep of Cornell<\/a> (April 13)
\n Phillies come up empty in eighth as offensive, baserunning miscues surface in 4-3 loss<\/a> (April 12)
\n Phillies scratch Andrew Painter with migraine, turn to Zach Pop for start<\/a> (April 12)
\n Zack Wheeler trending upward, but Phillies still waiting on ace-level return as velocity lags<\/a> (April 12)
\n COLLEGE BASEBALL: Haverford knocks off No. 3 Johns Hopkins, plus other Philly D-III notes from Saturday<\/a> (April 11)
\n COLLEGE BASEBALL: Holy Family\u2019s offense erupts in sweep of Chestnut Hill<\/a> (April 11)
\n COLLEGE BASEBALL: Quakers sweep Cornell in key Ivy League battle; Saint Joseph’s extends win streak over Dayton<\/a> (April 11)
\n Schwarber, Harper go back-to-back as Phillies rally past Diamondbacks, 4-3<\/a> (April 11)
\n COLLEGE BASEBALL: Angel\u2019s walk-off lifts Haverford past Muhlenberg, 4-3<\/a> (April 10)
\n COLLEGE BASEBALL: No. 8 West Chester swept in doubleheader by Shippensburg<\/a> (April 10)
\n COLLEGE BASEBALL: Saint Josep’s continues A-10 conference streak with win over Dayton in extras<\/a> (April 10)
\n Phillies blow early lead, strike out 16 times in 5-4 loss to Diamondbacks<\/a> (April 10)
\n Phillies vs. Diamondbacks preview: Starting pitchers, key stats, lineup, and how to watch<\/a> (April 10)
\n How a local Philly duo behind Dominate the Diamond is tackling youth baseball\u2019s coaching crisis<\/a> (April 10)
\n Giants shut out Phillies again; Bohm, Stott continue to scuffle as offense goes silent<\/a> (April 9)
\n Phillies\u2019 bats go quiet, defensive lapses loom large in 6-0 loss to Giants<\/a> (April 8)
\n Ryan Taylor sets Penn stolen base record as Quakers roll into Liberty Bell Classic final<\/a> (April 7)
\n The three-year window: How baseball loses kids before it ever has a chance to keep them<\/a> (April 7)
\n Harper has a night as Phillies rally late, Bohm\u2019s double caps four-run seventh in win over Giants<\/a> (April 7)
\n Phillies vs. Giants series preview with notes, pitching matchups, and more<\/a> (April 6)
\n Penn duo Pokrovsky, Coyne earn Player of the Week honors from Philadelphia Baseball Review<\/a> (April 6)
\n YOUTH BASEBALL: Proper pre-game mobility is missing piece in arm-care conversation<\/a> (April 6)
\n Turner\u2019s go-ahead double, Luzardo\u2019s 11 Ks lift Phillies past Rockies<\/a> (April 4)
\n COLLEGE BASEBALL: Eagles rally from five down, complete sweep of Stevenson behind Harris, bullpen<\/a> (April 4)
\n COLLEGE BASEBALL: Coyne dominates, Collins\u2019 grand slam powers Penn sweep of Columbia<\/a> (April 4)
\n Marsh, Harper, Schwarber go deep as Phillies erupt in rout of Rockies<\/a> (April 3)
\n Edmundo Sosa delivers in the margins as Phillies lean on their most valuable role player<\/a> (April 3)
\n Phillies vs. Rockies series preview: Pitching matchups, early trends, and key storylines<\/a> (April 3)
\n COLLEGE BASEBALL: West Chester\u2019s formula is taking hold \u2014 while Chestnut Hill delivers a reminder of how quickly things can erupt<\/a> (April 3)
\n COLLEGE BASEBALL: Saint Joseph\u2019s surging behind complete effort as conference race tightens across Philly<\/a> (April 3)
\n Phillies ride rookies again as Justin Crawford walk-off caps memorable homestand<\/a> (April 2)
\n Phillies News from the Philadelphia Baseball Review<\/a><\/p>\n

Support the Mission. Fuel the Movement.<\/p>\n

\n You\u2019re not just funding journalism \u2014 you\u2019re backing the future of youth baseball in Philly.\n <\/p>\n


\n \ud83d\udc49 Join us on Patreon \u00bb
<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"PHILADELPHIA — Saint Joseph\u2019s has leaned on its bullpen all spring, and this week, one of its most…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":682432,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[2288],"tags":[5,2328,2304,4,2305,2303],"class_list":{"0":"post-682431","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-mlb-postseason","8":"tag-baseball","9":"tag-major-league-baseball-playoffs","10":"tag-major-league-baseball-postseason","11":"tag-mlb","12":"tag-mlb-playoffs","13":"tag-mlb-postseason"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@mlb\/116465334609447127","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/682431","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=682431"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/682431\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/682432"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=682431"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=682431"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=682431"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}