May 22 - Mudcats Game Notes

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DOWN EAST WOOD DUCKS (TEXAS RANGERS) at CAROLINA MUDCATS (MILWAUKEE BREWERS) 
Tuesday, May 22, 2018 | 7:00 PM | Game 45, Home Game 23 | 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: 22-22; DE: 25-19
Streaks: CAR: W4; DE: L1
Last 10 Games: CAR: 6-4, DE: 7-3
Home Record: CAR: 14-8; DE: 16-6
Road Record: CAR: 8-14; DE: 9-13
Division Record: CAR: 15-19; DE: 22-15
Current Series: CAR leads 1-0 (of 4)
Season Series: DE leads 7-3 (of 23)
CAR v. OPP: 3-1 @CAR (14), 0-6 @OPP (9)

UPCOMING PROBABLE STARTERS:
TUE, 5/22, 7:00 PM: Down East RHP Edgar Arredondo (4-1, 2.65) at Carolina LHP Nathan Kirby (0-2, 6.62)
WED, 5/23, 11:00 AM: Down East RHP Jonathan Hernández (3-2, 2.23) at Carolina RHP Braden Webb (2-3, 6.08)
THU, 5/24, 7:00 PM: Down East RHP Michael Matuella (1-3, 8.04) at Carolina LHP Cam Roegner (5-1, 0.76)
TONIGHT: The Mudcats continue an eight game home stand tonight with the second game of a four game series versus the Down East Wood Ducks at Five County Stadium. The Mudcats took last night's opener 4-2 and are currently in a season best four game winning streak. Carolina currently trails the first place Wood Ducks by 3.0 games in the first half Southern Division standings.
ICYMI: Ryan Aguilar hit a game tying home run in the seventh, Luke Barker earned a six-out save and starter Trey Supak pitched through six scoreless innings as the Mudcats defeated the Wood Ducks 4-2, while winning their fourth straight game on Monday night in Zebulon.
ABOUT THE LAST ONE: Last night's victory ran Carolina's current winning streak to a season best four straight games. The series opening victory also brought the Mudcats back to an even .500 record for the first time since they were 11-11 on April 27.
VS. DEWD: Tonight's game is the second of a four game series between the Mudcats and Wood Ducks at Five County Stadium. It is also the 11th of 23 total games between the two teams this season. The Wood Ducks lead the overall season series 7-3; with six of those victories coming at Grainger Stadium. The Wood Ducks have swept the Mudcats twice at home this season, but are 1-3 at Five County Stadium against Carolina this year.
MUDCATS STARTER: LHP Nathan Kirby has tonight's game two of four start against the visiting Wood Ducks. Kirby is 0-2 and has pitched to a 6.62 ERA over eight starts this season. He has also totaled 19 strikeouts, 12 walks and a .224 average against over 17.2 innings this season. Kirby last pitched on May 17 at Down East where he struck out a career high four over 3.0 innings pitched. He also walked one and allowed a run and on hit his last time out. Kirby has faced the Wood Ducks twice this year and is 0-1 with a 11.25 ERA (4.0 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO) against them this season.
OPP STARTER: RHP Edgar Arredondo has the start for the Wood Ducks tonight at Five County Stadium. Arredondo is 4-1 with a 2.65 ERA over seven starts this season and has totaled 41 strikeouts, eight walks and a .183 average against over 37.1 innings. Arredondo is currently 7th in the CL in lowest earned run average (2.65) and 5th in WHIP (1.07). He is also 5th among CL starters in highest SO/9ip ratio (9.88), 3rd among CL starters in lowest BB-IBB/9ip ratio (1.93) and 4th among CL starters in fewest baserunners/9ip ratio (9.88). He last pitched on May 15 against the Mudcats and ended up earning his third straight win after holding to just one hit over 7.0 scoreless innings pitched. He also walked three and struck out eight in his lone start of the season against the Mudcats.
SINCE WHEN: The Mudcats are 8-6 over their last 14 (since May 7) games and own a +19 run differential over that same span... The Carolina pitching staff has collectively pitched to a 2.41 ERA and the offense has averaged 4.3 runs per game since May 7… The Carolina starting rotation is 5-2 with six quality starts and a 1.82 ERA since May 7 (74.1 IP, 26 BB, 67 SO)… The Carolina bullpen is 3-3-5 and has pitched to a 3.28 ERA since May 7 (46.2 IP, 17 BB, 40 SO).
ONE-TWO PUNCH: Carolina's starting rotation features the top two earned run average leaders in the Carolina League in Cam Roegner (1st, 0.76) and Trey Supak (2nd, 1.76)... Roegner leads the Carolina League in lowest earned run average (0.76) and is 2nd in MiLB in lowest ERA so far this season. Roegner is also 1st the CL in LOB% (94.8%), 4th in GB% (53.7%), 4th in WHIP (1.06) and 4th in innings pitched (47.1)… Supak is currently 2nd in the CL in lowest earned run average (1.76). Supak also leads the CL in innings (51.0), tied for 2nd in strikeouts (48), 3rd in WHIP (1.04), 4th in average against (.208) and 3rd in fewest baserunners/9ip ratio (9.88).
WHERE THEY RANK: Keston Hiura leads the Carolina League in doubles (14) and is tied for the CL lead in extra-base hits (20). He also leads the CL in extra-base hits during the month of May (15)… Luis Aviles Jr. Jr. is tied for 3rd in the CL in stolen bases (12)... Ronnie Gideon (56) and Tucker Neuhaus (55) are 1st and 2nd in the CL in most strikeouts... Luke Barker and Nattino Diplan are tied for the CL lead in most games (15)… Luke Barker leads CL relievers in fewest baserunners/9ip (8.14)... Max McDowell leads MiLB catchers in most caught steals (25) and is 1st in caught stealing/stolen base efficiency (.556) for catchers with at least 30 attempts against.
MUDDIES ON THE POND: Carolina is batting a CL low .236 with runners on base. They are also batting just .245 with runners in scoring position; 2nd lowest average in the CL this season. They have additionally struck out a league high 201 times when batting with runners on base this season and a CL high 119 times with runners in scoring position.
STRUGGLING LATE: Mudcats pitchers have combined to pitch to a 6.98 ERA (28 R, 23 ER, 24 BB, 33 SO) in the ninth inning so far this season... The Carolina offense, meanwhile, has combined to total just eight runs in the ninth inning of games this season… Carolina has a league high eight losses when leading after six innings this season. They also have a league high six losses when leading after seven.
HITS AND Ks: The Carolina offense has totaled 85 more strikeouts than hits (436 SO, 351 H) so far this season. Carolina's difference in strikeouts over hits is currently the 5th 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 last season (1,245 SO [franchise record], 1,081 H) and 70 more strikeouts than hits in 2007 (1,219 SO, 1,149 H).
GOT HEEEM: Max McDowell leads MiLB catchers in most caught steals (25) and is 1st in caught stealing/stolen base efficiency (.556) for catchers with at least 30 attempts against... McDowell caught four base runners attempting to steal and picked off another at first on Opening Night, 4/5 vs. Winston-Salem. McDowell and the Mudcats later allowed six stolen bases on 4/19 vs. Buies Creek.
THE MUDCATS HAVE…
... Stranded the most base runners in the CL (340).
... Averaged the 2nd fewest runs per game in the CL (4.07).
... Totaled the 2nd fewest runs (175) in the CL this season.
... Totaled the worst K% in the CL this season (26.5%).
... Converted 50% of save opp. (13 SV, 26 SVO); 10th in CL.
... Totaled a CL leading 29 caught steals (.439 - CL best).
... 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).