May 23 - Mudcats Game Notes

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DOWN EAST WOOD DUCKS (TEXAS RANGERS) at CAROLINA MUDCATS (MILWAUKEE BREWERS) 
Wednesday, May 23, 2018 | 11:00 AM | Game 46, Home Game 24 | 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: 22-23; DE: 26-19
Streaks: CAR: L1; DE: W1
Last 10 Games: CAR: 6-4, DE: 7-3
Home Record: CAR: 14-9; DE: 16-6
Road Record: CAR: 8-14; DE: 10-13
Division Record: CAR: 15-20; DE: 23-15
Current Series: Tied 1-1 (of 4)
Season Series: DE leads 8-3 (of 23)
CAR v. OPP: 3-2 @CAR (14), 0-6 @OPP (9)

UPCOMING PROBABLE STARTERS:
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)
FRI, 5/25, 7:00 PM: Myrtle Beach RHP Keegan Thompson (1-3, 4.14) at Carolina RHP Marcos Diplan (1-2, 3,98)
TODAY: The Mudcats continue an eight game home stand today with the third game of a four game series versus the Down East Wood Ducks at Five County Stadium. The Wood Ducks took last night's game 4-2 to even the series at 1-1. Carolina currently trails the first place Wood Ducks by 4.0 games in the first half, Carolina League Southern Division standings.
ICYMI: Carolina's Victor Diaz struck out a career high eight over five and 1/3 innings in relief and Ryan Aguilar went 2-for-4 with a RBI double, but the Wood Ducks got another strong start from Edgar Arredondo while totaling 11 hits in a 4-2 victory versus the Mudcats on Tuesday night at Five County Stadium.
VS. DEWD: Today's game is the third of a four game series between the Mudcats and Wood Ducks at Five County Stadium. It is also the 12th of 23 total games between the two teams this season. The Wood Ducks lead the overall season series 8-3; with six of those victories coming at Grainger Stadium. The Wood Ducks have swept the Mudcats twice at home this season, but are 2-3 at Five County Stadium against Carolina this year.
MUDCATS STARTER: RHP Braden Webb has today's start for the Mudcats. He enters at 2-3 with a 6.08 ERA this season and has totaled 22 strikeouts, 17 walks and a .272 average against over 26.2 innings and seven starts this season. Webb last pitched on May 18 in Buies Creek where he turned in his best start of the season after allowing just one run on two hits over 5.1 innings pitched. He ended up totaling a career high eight strikeouts, while also walking a career high six, while working to a season best 61 game score… Webb has faced the Wood Ducks once this year and is 0-0 with a 16.20 ERA against them (1.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO).
OPP STARTER: RHP Jonathan Hernandez goes for the Wood Ducks in today's game at Five County Stadium. Hernandez has gone 3-2 so far this season with a 2.23 ERA over seven starts and is currently 4th in the CL in earned run average. He has also totaled 52 strikeouts, 14 walks and a .187 average against over 40.1 innings pitched this season. Hernandez is currently tied for the CL lead in strikeouts (52), 2nd in WHIP (0.99) and 2nd in average against (.187). Hernandez last pitched on May 16, where he ended up with 11 strikeouts over 6.0 innings against the Mudcats. He also allowed two runs on five hits and walked one his last time out.
SINCE WHEN: The Mudcats are 8-7 over their last 15 games (since May 7) and own a +17 run differential over that same span... The Carolina pitching staff has collectively pitched to a 2.52 ERA and the offense has averaged 4.13 runs per game since May 7… The Carolina starting rotation is 5-3 with six quality starts and a 1.87 ERA since May 7 (77.0 IP, 28 BB, 69 SO)… The Carolina bullpen is 3-4-5 and has pitched to a 3.40 ERA since May 7 (53.0 IP, 20 BB, 50 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 (60) and Tucker Neuhaus (58) 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 (26) and is 1st in caught stealing/stolen base efficiency (.531) for catchers with at least 30 attempts against
MUDDIES ON THE POND: Carolina is batting a CL low .233 with runners on base. They are also batting just .242 with runners in scoring position; 2nd lowest average in the CL this season. They have additionally struck out a league high 210 times when batting with runners on base this season and a CL high 122 times with runners in scoring position.
STRUGGLING LATE: Mudcats pitchers have combined to pitch to a 7.34 ERA (30 R, 25 ER, 25 BB, 35 SO) in the ninth inning so far this season... The Carolina offense, meanwhile, has combined to total just nine 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 91 more strikeouts than hits (448 SO, 357 H) so far this season. Carolina's difference in strikeouts over hits is currently the 3rd 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).
THE MUDCATS HAVE…
... Stranded the most base runners in the CL (350).
... Averaged the fewest runs per game in the CL (4.02).
... Totaled the 2nd fewest runs (177) in the CL this season.
... Totaled the worst K% in the CL this season (26.6%).
... Converted 50% of save opp. (13 SV, 26 SVO); 10th in CL.
... Totaled a CL leading 30 caught steals (.430 - 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).