July 15 - Mudcats Game Notes

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LYNCHBURG HILLCATS (CLEVELAND INDIANS) at CAROLINA MUDCATS (MILWAUKEE BREWERS)
Sunday, July 15, 2018 | 2:00 PM | Game 93, Home Game 46 | 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: 47-45; LYN: 42-48
Streaks: CAR: W1; LYN: L1
Last 10 Games: CAR: 6-4, LYN: 4-6
Home Record: CAR: 27-18; LYN: 23-22
Road Record: CAR: 20-27; LYN: 19-26
Division Record: CAR: 30-38; LYN: 28-30
Current Series: Tied 1-1 (of 4)
Season Series: CAR leads 3-2 (of 13)
CAR v. OPP: 1-1 @CAR (7), 2-1 @OPP (6)

UPCOMING PROBABLE STARTERS:
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)
TUE, 7/17, OFF
TODAY: The Mudcats continue a seven game (eight day) home stand today with game three of a four game series versus the Lynchburg Hillcats at Five County Stadium. Tonight's game is the 6th of 13 meetings between the two teams this season. The Mudcats won last night's game 3-2 to even the current series at 1-1 and to take a 3-2 lead in the overall season series.
ICYMI: Demi Orimoloye went 2-for-4 with run scoring hits in the first and fifth innings, Dallas Carroll scored the go-ahead run in the seventh on a sacrifice fly to shallow left-center and Luke Barker earned his league leading 13th save of the season as the Mudcats defeated the Hillcats 3-2 on Saturday night at Five County Stadium.
STARTING OFF: RHP Victor Diaz enters today's start at 5-5 with a 4.24 ERA over 17 games and six starts this season. He has also totaled 72 strikeouts, 33 walks and a .269 average against over 85.0 innings pitched. Diaz is additionally 2-3 with a 4.15 ERA over 11 relief appearances (52.0 IP, 49 H, 24 ER, 23 BB, 44 SO) and 3-2 with a 4.36 ERA over six starts (33.0 IP, 36 H, 16 ER, 10 BB, 28 SO). He began the year primarily pitching in relief behind starter Nathan Kirby, but moved into the start rotation in June and has made six consecutive starts since the role adjustment. Diaz last started on 7/9 in Myrtle Beach where he earned his second straight win after limiting the Pelicans to one run and five hits over five innings pitched. 
WHERE THEY RANK: RHP Conor Harber is currently 1st in the Carolina League in earned run average (2.26) 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 tied for 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 leads the Carolina League in saves (13). Barker is also tied for the CL lead in games (31), tied for 1st in games finished (23). He is also 2nd among CL relievers in lowest batting average (.186), 4th in highest strikeouts/9ip (9.27) and 3rd in lowest BB/9ip ratio.
OF LATE: The Mudcats have gone 17-10 over their last 27 games and have combined to pitch to a 3.19 ERA while also owning a +6 run differential since June 14... During that same span the Carolina offense has combined to hit .239 with an average of 3.78 runs per game (since 6/14). The bullpen has been especially good as they have combined to pitch to a 2.87 ERA and has gone 7-3 with 14 saves (16 SVO) and 91 strikeouts over 100.1 innings since June 14. They have also combined to allow only four of 27 inherited runners to score since June 14.
SAVE ME: The Carolina bullpen has totaled a Carolina League best 10 saves so far in the second half. They have also successfully converted a CL best 83% of save chances (10 SV, 12 SVO) in the second half. Luke Barker has totaled a CL best seven saves in the second half (7 SV, 8 SVO)… The Mudcats finished the first half converting a CL worst 55% of save chances (17 SV, 31 SVO).
TRENDING: Devin Hairston has hit safely in 10 straight games and is batting .341/.370/.432 during the streak (.801 OPS, 15-for-44, 8 R, 2 2B, 1 3B, 3 RBI, 2 BB, 18 SO).
MUDDIES ON THE POND: The Carolina offense is currently last in the CL when batting with runners on base (.237 / .671 OPS), last when batting with runners in scoring position (.236 / .690 OPS) and 7th when batting with runners in scoring position with 2-outs in an inn. (.225 / .687 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 inn..
HITS AND Ks: The Carolina offense has totaled 154 more strikeouts than hits (861 SO, 707 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 CL high 861 strikeouts this season (on pace for 1,310 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 by the 1990 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, is currently 17-7 (.708) over 24 games against Northern Division teams (vs. FRE: 6-2, vs. LYN: 3-2, .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 24 games remaining against CL Northern Division teams this season.
THE MUDCATS HAVE…
... Averaged the 2nd fewest runs per game in the CL (4.01).
... Totaled the 2nd fewest runs (369) in the CL this season.
... Allowed the 2nd fewest runs (353) in the CL this season.
... Totaled the worst K% (offense) in the CL this season (25.5%).
... 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).