Wanted: pitcher, right- or left-handed. Must be able to throw strikes. Also wanted, position players.

The Butler BlueSox Prospect League baseball team and its manager Anthony Rebyanski haven’t resorted to placing a want-ad for help.

Yet.

But there’s no debating after a 7-4 loss to Chillicothe at Kelly Automotive Park Monday night and the playoffs looming that the BlueSox have a depleted roster.

And more are leaving every day.

“We’re down to a 20-man roster with a 28 max,” Rebyanski said. “We’re going to be losing more if we make it past (the first round of the playoffs). We’re going to be down to 18.”

It’s the nature of the Prospect League. Just about every team is going through the same thing. College coaches shut down pitchers in July. Players get hurt. Some leave early for personal reasons.

Butler (39-20 overall and 24-7 in the second half) has been able to win 16 of its last 18 games through the flux to clinch a second-half title and playoff spot.

When it has come to survival of the fittest, the BlueSox have rose to the top with a core that has produced.

Even in the loss to the Paints (39-20, 19-11), Ryan Hanahan had three hits, including a triple, Butler graduate Cody Herald went 2-for-4 with two RBI and Grove City grad Jeff Revesz went 3-for-4 with a RBI.

The bugaboo Monday was defense — two errors in the fourth inning led to four unearned runs for the Paints in a three-run setback.

“The defense hurt,” Rebyanski said.

Nate Sphon, a former intern who became a member of the pitching staff last week, got the start and gave up a three-run home run to Joe Hoscheit in the first inning, but settled down.

He looked to be out of the fourth inning unscathed, but a throwing error kept the inning alive and the Paints capitalized.

Not wanting to use any pitchers, Rebyanski turned to infielder Zac LaNeve and got three shutout innings from the right-hander.

Rebyanski said many more position players will pitch tonight in the regular-season finale against Richmond.

And maybe some one-game arms as well.

“We’re going to have a lot of position guys going tomorrow,” Rebyanski said. “I’m going to make a lot of calls tonight to see if I can get some guys I know from around here to go to help us out for a couple of innings.”

Rebyanski said he, the other managers in the league and Prospect League commissioner David Chase have had conversations about the roster turnover that happens frequently during the season.

“It is something that needs to be addressed,” Rebyanski said. “I know amongst the coaches on our side there has been some brainstorming of ideas and we’ve had some good ideas that will help. I know Dave Chase, the commissioner and I, have exchanged phone calls and emails and texts about some different things.

“It is hard. It takes a toll, one on the staff that we have, pitching and position players, but it also takes a toll on the guys trying to recruit the team,” Rebyanski added. “This entire month, we have not had a full 28-man roster. We haven’t had a full 28-man roster since Day 1.”

No matter how many guys are left on the roster, Revesz said there is a palpable excitement about the looming playoffs.

It’s the first playoff appearance for the BlueSox in team history.

“I’m expecting it to be packed here (Wednesday),” Revesz said. “It’s exciting. We’ve gotten great support from the fans. They’ve always been great here.”

Chillicothe 300 400 000 — 7 10 0

Butler 200 001 010 — 4 12 3

W: Derek Moore 5.1IP (0K, 1BB). L: Nate Spohn 4IP (1K, 1BB).

Chillicothe (39-20, 19-11): Chad Sedio 1B 2B 2-RBI, Deion Tansel 2B 1B RBI, Zach Jacobs 2-1B, Joe Hoscheit HR 3-RBI, TJ Diffenderfer 1B 2B, Alex Ritchie 2B

Butler (39-20, 24-7): Stephen Sada 1B, Mick Fennell 1B, Ryan Hanahan 2-1B 3B, Cody Herald 1B 2B 2-RBI, Ryan Uhl 2-1B, Jeff Revesz 2-1B 2B RBI

Today: Richmond at Butler, 6:35 p.m.