July 18 - Mudcats Game Notes

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WINSTON-SALEM DASH (CHICAGO WHITE SOX) at CAROLINA MUDCATS (MILWAUKEE BREWERS)
Wednesday, July 18, 2018 | 7:00 PM | Game 95, Home Game 48 | 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: 47-47; WS: 58-37
Streaks: CAR: L2; WS: W2
Last 10 Games: CAR: 4-6, WS: 6-4
Home Record: CAR: 27-20; WS: 32-16
Road Record: CAR: 20-27; WS: 26-21
Division Record: CAR: 30-38; WS: 35-21
Current Series: First game (of 3)
Season Series: WS leads 10-4 (of 21)
CAR v. OPP: 3-4 @CAR (10), 1-6 @OPP (11)

UPCOMING PROBABLE STARTERS:
WED, 7/18, 7:00 PM: Winston-Salem LHP John Parke (2-1, 3.38) at Carolina RHP Braden Webb (5-7, 4.22)
THU, 7/19, 7:00 PM: Winston-Salem RHP Luis Martinez (6-4, 4.23) at Carolina TBD
FRI, 7/20, 7:00 PM: Winston-Salem RHP Blake Hickman (2-3, 7.56) at Carolina RHP Victor Diaz (5-5, 4.33)
TONIGHT: The Mudcats continue a seven game (eight day) home stand tonight with game one of a three game series versus the Winston-Salem Dash at Five County Stadium. Tonight's game is the 15th of 21 total meetings between the two teams this season. The Mudcats are 1-3 in their current home stand after recently dropping three of four to the Lynchburg Hillcats.
ICYMI: Weston Wilson went 3-for-5 with a home run, a double, two runs and two RBI, but the Mudcats lost another seesaw game with the Hillcats while falling 7-5 in Monday's series finale at Five County Stadium. 
STARTING OFF: RHP Braden Webb has tonight's series opening start versus the Dash at Five County Stadium. Webb is currently 5-7 with a 4.22 ERA and has totaled 82 strikeouts, 48 walks and a .237 average over 81.0 innings and 17 starts this season. His 82 strikeouts are currently the 5th most in the Carolina League. He is also, however, tied for 4th in most walks (48). Webb last pitched on July 13 against the Hillcats in Zebulon and suffered his second straight loss after allowing seven runs on eight hits over 3.0 innings pitched. He also walked three and struck out three his last time out.
WHERE THEY RANK: RHP Conor Harber is currently 1st in the Carolina League in earned run average (2.26) and in batting 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 5th in most strikeouts (82), tied for 5th in the CL in most walks (48), 4th among CL starters in lowest batting average against (.237) and tied for 3rd 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 (32) and tied for 1st in games finished (25). He is also 3rd among CL relievers in lowest batting average (.193), 5th in highest strikeouts/9ip (9.07) and 3rd in lowest BB/9ip ratio (1.81).
SAVE ME: The Carolina bullpen has totaled a Carolina League best 10 saves (tied with Lynchburg) so far in the second half. They have also successfully converted 71% of save chances (10 SV, 14 SVO) in the second half; up from 55% in the 1st half (17/31)... Luke Barker has totaled a CL best seven saves in the second half (7 SV, 9 SVO).
TRENDING: Ryan Aguilar has hit safely in 8 straight games and is batting .285/.364/.464 during the streak (.828 OPS, 8-for-23, 4 R, 3 2B, 1 3B, 3 RBI, 4 BB, 6 SO)... Weston Wilson has hit safely in 15 of his last 16 games and is batting .457/.477/.712 with a 1.189 OPS since June 30 (27 H, 11 R, 4 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 18 RBI). He has also had three hits in three of his last four games.
STELLAR D: Weston Wilson has been charged with only two errors this season and has a .995 fielding percentage while playing 34 games at 1B, 13 games at 2B, 11 games at 3B and 34 games in the outfield this season.
MUDDIES ON THE POND: The Carolina offense is currently last in the CL when batting with runners on base (.236 / .670 OPS), last when batting with runners in scoring position (.235 / .688 OPS) and 7th when batting with runners in scoring position with 2-outs in an inning. (.226 / .688 OPS).
LATE LOSSES: Carolina has a CL high 12 losses when leading after 6 innings this season. They have also totaled a league worst 9 losses when leading after 7 innings.
HITS AND Ks: The Carolina offense has totaled 150 more strikeouts than hits (875 SO, 725 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 875 strikeouts this season (on pace for 1,303 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 3rd worst in division winning percentage (.441) this season. Carolina, however, is currently 17-9 (.654, league high PCT.) over 26 games against Northern Division teams (vs. FRE: 6-2, vs. LYN: 3-4, .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 22 games remaining against CL Northern Division teams this season.
THE MUDCATS HAVE…
... Averaged the 2nd fewest runs per game in the CL (4.03).
... Totaled the 2nd fewest runs (379) in the CL this season.
... Allowed the 2nd fewest runs (366) in the CL this season.
... Totaled the worst K% (offense) in the CL this season (25.3%).
... Averaged the longest 9-inn. game times in the CL; 3:00 (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).