The magic number sits at three for the Rochester Red Wings to reach the post-season. With four games against Pawtucket at Frontier Field starting Friday night the Wings will look to clinch their first playoff berth since 2013.
Kevin Oklobzija will lead complete coverage of this weekend’s series on Pickin’ Splinters.
Rochester (78-60) has a two-game edge on Lehigh Valley (76-62) for the final playoff spot in the International League. The IronPigs hold the tiebreaker. Lehigh Valley hosts IL-North leading Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in a four-game set to end the regular season as well.
Pitching matchups for Pawtucket at Rochester:
LHP Brian Johnson (3-3/2.77) vs. RHP Aaron Slegers (14-4/3.37)
RHP Hector Velasquez (8-4/2.23) vs. RHP Felix Jorge (0-1/4.50)
RHP Kyle Kendrick (4-7/6.02) vs. LHP Hector Santiago (rehab)
LHP Jalen Beeks (6-6/3.66) vs. LHP Adalberto Mejia (rehab)
Season Series: Rochester leads 9-4 despite hitting just .223 in games versus Pawtucket. The Wings, though, have a 2.28 ERA against the Paw Sox. The Wings staff is second in the IL with a team ERA of 3.37 (Scranton/Wilkes-Barre tops the league at 3.31).
What to expect: Two runs or fewer have decided 12 games between the two teams. Rochester is 4-2 in those decided by the smallest of margins.
Noteworthy: Rochester’s Matt Hague leads the IL with 143 hits and is sixth hitting .292 and with an on-base percentage at .368. Pawtucket’s Bryce Brentz paces the league with 30 home runs. Brentz’s 83 RBI ranks fourth. He is second only to Rhys Hoskins (now with the Phillies) in slugging at .531.
Roster moves: Infielders Jonathan Rodriguez, and Ryan Walker have been transferred from Double-A Chattanooga. Left-handed pitchers Buddy Boshers and Nik Turley have been placed on Minnesota’s taxi squad. Niko Goodrum has been promoted to the Twins.
*Rochester native Christopher Bostick is second in the IL with 141 hits and third with 74 runs.
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