While the Nationals’ season is coming to an end, the kids will keep playing. Two of the Nats’ farm teams are in the playoffs: the Single-A Potomac Nationals and the AA Harrisburg Senators

Starting down in Woodbridge, the Potomac Nationals are in a series with the Fredrick Keys. The Keys were winning the first game 5-1 when it was called due to rain in the sixth inning (a common theme in MiLB playoffs it seems).

These teams were neck-and-neck throughout the regular season, with the Keys taking the first half victory, but the P-Nats coming back to win the Carolina League Northern Division. Both teams finished with the same winning percentage, but the P-Nats got the title in a tie break.

The defending champs are looking for a title repeat after a season that revealed lots of problems with their field, one of the main reasons they missed out on the Bryce Harper boost the other minor-league affiliates got.

Up in Harrisburg, the Senators and Richmond Flying Squirrels (AA affiliate of the San Francisco Giants) will face off in the Eastern League. Their series has already been postponed due to rain, as games 1 and 2 in Richmond will be played on Friday and Saturday before moving to Harrisburg for games 3-5.

The Senators won the division by 4 games over Richmond during the regular season. Breakthrough seasons for guys like Brad Peacock helped them up the ante at AA, and Bryce Harper didn’t hurt either. However, the Squirrels took the season series 13-8, and were 10-5 when playing the Senators at home.

Harper won’t be with them for the playoffs. He hurt his hamstring and will sit out the rest of the season, though he will play fall ball. He’ll have to wait until next season to get a taste of professional playoff baseball.

The Nats might not be playing in long sleeves yet, but their prospects are. As we continue to focus on the future in true September spirit, keep an eye on these kids to make a run for a championship. The more experience they have winning, the better the Nats will be.