July 14 - Mudcats Game Notes

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LYNCHBURG HILLCATS (CLEVELAND INDIANS) at CAROLINA MUDCATS (MILWAUKEE BREWERS)
Saturday, July 14, 2018 | 5:00 PM | Game 92, Home Game 45 | at Five County Stadium | Zebulon, NC
RADIO: WDWG, The Big Dawg 98.5 FM
STREAMING AUDIO: www.carolinamudcats.com, TuneIn Radio
STREAMING VIDEO: MiLB.tv
Overall Record: CAR: 46-45; LYN: 42-47
Streaks: CAR: L3; LYN: W1
Last 10 Games: CAR: 6-4, LYN: 5-5
Home Record: CAR: 26-18; LYN: 23-22
Road Record: CAR: 20-27; LYN: 19-25
Division Record: CAR: 30-38; LYN: 28-30
Current Series: LYN leads 1-0 (of 4)
Season Series: Tied 2-2 (of 13)
CAR v. OPP: 0-1 @CAR (7), 2-1 @OPP (6)

UPCOMING PROBABLE STARTERS:
SAT, 7/14, 5:00 PM: Lynchburg RHP Zach Plesac (6-4, 4.79) at Carolina RHP Conor Harber (4-4, 2.20)
SUN, 7/15, 2:00 PM: Lynchburg LHP Anderson Polanco (1-1, 4.10) at Carolina RHP Victor Diaz (5-5, 4.24)
MON, 7/16, 7:00 PM: Lynchburg LHP Sam Hentges (5-6, 3.44) at Carolina LHP Cam Roegner (8-5, 2.38)
TONIGHT: The Mudcats continue a seven game (eight day) home stand tonight with game two of a four game series versus the Lynchburg Hillcats at Five County Stadium. Tonight's game is the 5th of 13 meetings between the two teams this season; the season series is tied at 2-2. The HIllcats won last night's game 9-7 and lead the current series 1-0.
ICYMI: Weston Wilson went 3-for-3 with three runs and Cooper Hummel went 2-for-4 with two doubles, but the Mudcats were defeated 9-7 in game one of a four game series against the visiting Hillcats on Friday night at Five County Stadium.
STARTING OFF: RHP Conor Harber has the start for the Mudcats in tonight's game against the visiting Hillcats. Harber is currently 4-4 with a Carolina League best 2.20 ERA over 21 games and eight starts this season. He has also totaled 55 strikeouts, 41 walks and a .209 average against in 73.2 innings this season. Harber has gone 2-3 with a 1.69 ERA as a starter (37.1 IP, 25 H, 7 R 7 ER, 17 BB, 20 SO) and 2-1 with a 2.72 ERA as a reliever this season (36.1 IP, 29 H, 12 R, 11 ER, 24 BB, 35 SO). He last pitched on July 8 versus the Keys and pitched to a season best 74 game score while working through 7.0 innings (4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO).
WHERE THEY RANK: RHP Conor Harber is currently 1st in the Carolina League in earned run average (2.20) and average against (.209)… LHP Cam Roegner is currently 2nd in the Carolina League in earned run average (2.38), 2nd in innings pitched (98.1), tied for 2nd in wins (8) and 4th among starters in fewest baserunners/9ip (10.89)… RHP Braden Webb is currently 4th in the CL in most walks (48), 3rd among CL starters in lowest batting average against (.237) and tied for 2nd among starters in highest SO/9ip ratio (9.11)… RHP Luke Barker is currently tied for CL lead in saves (12). Barker is also 2nd in the CL in games (30), 2nd in games finished (23), 2nd among CL relievers in lowest batting average (.179), 3rd in lowest BB/9ip ratio (1.90) and 1st in fewest baserunners/9ip ratio (7.59).
OF LATE: The Mudcats have gone 16-10 over their last 26 games and have combined to pitch to a 3.24 ERA while also owning a +5 run differential since June 14... During that same span the Carolina offense has combined to hit just .237 with an average of 3.81 runs per game (since 6/14). The Carolina starting rotation, meanwhile, has gone 10-7 with nine quality starts and a 3.45 ERA over that same stretch. The bullpen has combined to pitch to a 2.96 ERA and has gone 6-3 with 13 saves (15 SVO) and 87 strikeouts over 97.1 innings since June 14. They have also combined to allow only four of 27 inherited runners to score since June 14.
TRENDING: Weston Wilson has hit safely in a season best 13 straight games and is batting .447/.462/.660 with a 1.121 OPS during the streak (21-for-47, 9 R, 2 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 15 RBI)... Devin Hairston has hit safely in 9 straight games and is batting .359/.390/.462 during the streak (.852 OPS, 14-for-39, 7 R, 2 2B, 1 3B, 3 RBI, 2 BB).
MUDDIES ON THE POND: The Carolina offense is currently 9th in the Carolina League when batting with runners on base (.238 / .674 OPS), 9th when batting with runners in scoring position (.237 / .695 OPS) and 9th when batting with runners in scoring position with 2-outs in an inning (.225 / .689 OPS).
LATE LOSSES: Carolina has a league high 10 losses when leading after six innings this season. They have also totaled a league worst seven losses when leading after seven innings.
HITS AND Ks: The Carolina offense has totaled 150 more strikeouts than hits (848 SO, 698 H) so far this season. Carolina's difference in strikeouts over hits is currently the 6th largest in MiLB. Since 1991, only the 2017 and 2007 Mudcats have finished a season with more strikeouts than hits. Carolina totaled 164 more strikeouts than hits in 2017 (1,245 SO [franchise record], 1,081 H) and 70 more strikeouts than hits in 2007 (1,219 SO, 1,149 H).
ALL THE Ks: The Mudcats offense has combined to total a Carolina League high 848 strikeouts this season (on pace for 1,305 SO). The Carolina offense struck out a Carolina League and franchise record 1,245 times last season. The previous league record (per the 2017 Carolina League Media Guide) was 1,198 strikeouts and was set in 1990 by the Lynchburg Hillcats.
INTRA-DIV: The Mudcats are currently just 30-38 in games against Southern Division opponents and own the Carolina League's 2nd worst in division winning percentage (.441) this season. Carolina, however, currently 16-7 (.696) over 23 games against Northern Division teams (vs. FRE: 6-2, vs. LYN: 2-2, .vs WIL: 5-2, vs. SAL: 3-1) this season and own the CL's best winning percentage in games outside their own division. The Mudcats have 25 games remaining against CL Northern Division teams this season.
THE MUDCATS HAVE…
... Averaged the 2nd fewest runs per game in the CL (4.02).
... Totaled the 2nd fewest runs (366) in the CL this season.
... Allowed the 2nd fewest runs (351) in the CL this season.
... Totaled the worst K% (offense) in the CL this season (25.4%).
... Averaged the 2nd longest 9-inn. game times in the CL; 2:59 (h:mm)
... Not made the playoffs since the 2008 season.
... Not made the playoffs during their Carolina League era.
... Been in Zebulon, NC since 1991 (28th season).
... Been in the Carolina League since 2012 (7th season).