IOWA CUBS (10-15) @ OMAHA STORM CHASERS (18-8)
Friday, June 4, 2021 • 7:05 PM • Werner Park • Papillion, NE
RHP Matt Swarmer (0-0, -.--) vs. LHP Daniel Lynch (1-1, 2.70)
IOWA CUBS (10-15) @ OMAHA STORM CHASERS (18-8)
Friday, June 4, 2021 • 7:05 PM • Werner Park • Papillion, NE
RHP Matt Swarmer (0-0, -.--) vs. LHP Daniel Lynch (1-1, 2.70)
TONIGHT’S GAME: Iowa looks to get back to their winning ways as Matt Swarmer takes the ball for Iowa. Swarmer will be making his first start this season with the I-Cubs, after making 25 for them in 2019. He will go up against lefty Daniel Lynch, who is 1-1 on the season with a 2.70 ERA. Lynch’s only loss of the year came against Iowa, in the I-Cubs’ only victory against a left-handed starter.
EXPECTATION VS. REALITY: Iowa currently holds a 10-15 record, good for fifth place in the Triple-A East Midwest, but their run differential of -1 is tied with Indianapolis for third best in the division. That mark holds an expected record of 12-13, two games better than the I-Cubs’ actual record. The disparity is in part because Iowa’s margins of victory have been larger than their margins of defeat so far this season. In games they’ve won, the I-Cubs have averaged 7.2 runs while limiting their opponents to 2.6, for an average win by 4.6 runs. In games they’ve lost, Iowa has averaged 2.8 runs while allowing opponents to score an average of 5.9, for an average loss by 3.1 runs. The I-Cubs have won twice by double-digit margins, first on May 11, when they defeated St. Paul 11-1, and again on May 20, when they beat Omaha 16-1. Their only double digit loss was on May 25 against St. Paul, when they fell 6-17.
NOT A LEFTY: This season, Iowa has a 1-3 record in games in which the opposing team sends a lefty to the mound. The only win they have came against Omaha’s Daniel Lynch, who they are set to face again tonight. Lynch tossed six innings, allowing four earned runs on seven hits, while walking three and striking out seven. All together, left-handed starters have a 3.13 ERA (8 ER / 23.0 IP) against Iowa’s offense, having allowed two home runs, six walks and 23 strikeouts in their four starts. The I-Cubs are hitting .250 (22-for-88) as a team against left-handed starters.
THE SWARM: Matt Swarmer is set to make his first start for Triple-A Iowa this year, after making 25 starts in 27 games for the I-Cubs in 2019. Despite making five starts this year for Double-A Tennessee, Swarmer has yet to receive a decision. On May 23, the righty allowed no hits through five innings and struck out nine and in his last outing, he registered a quality start, tossing six innings of three-run ball. In 2019 with Iowa, Swarmer set the Iowa franchise record with 36 home runs allowed in a single season, but also led the Pacific Coast League with his 137 strikeouts. He went 10-11 with a 5.65 ERA over 151.1 innings. He walked 44 batters compared to his league-leading 137 strikeouts and opponents hit .299 against him.
KEEP IT GOING: Dee Gordon played in his fifth game with Iowa last night and extended his hitting streak to four games. Strange-Gordon showed off his power and speed, legging out a double to extend his hitting streak to four games. In his next at-bat, the infielder registered a bunt single, his second in as many games against the Storm Chasers. Strange-Gordon is now batting .227 (5-for-22) for Iowa, and has scored three runs in his five games.
TRUE OUTCOMES: Michael Rucker was hurt by the long ball in his outing last night, surrendering a season-high six runs all via the home run. Six earned runs is the most any Iowa reliever has allowed in a single outing in 2021. It was the second consecutive appearance in which Rucker has allowed a homer, joining his May 30 outing against St. Paul. That one - a solo shot by Ryan Jeffers - was the first home run Rucker had allowed in 2021, breaking his season-opening streak of six appearances and 12.1 total innings without a homer. He has now given up four in his last three innings of work, tying Adrian Sampson and Robert Stock for the bullpen lead. While the long balls were a problem, Rucker still missed some bats: five of the six outs he recorded last night came by strike out. His 25 punch outs are also the most by any Iowa reliever and place second behind Cory Abbott on the pitching staff as a whole.
WHO SAYS NO: Robert Stock toed the rubber as a starter last night for Iowa for the first time since 2019, when he made two starts for Rookie League San Diego on August 10 and 13. He also made three starts for Triple-A El Paso in 2019, on June 20, 24 and 27. In the eighth start of his professional career, Stock spun four innings, allowing just two runs on three hits. Both runs came on one swing of the bat, as Ryan O'Hearn blasted a two-run shot off of Stock. He was perfect through 3.1 innings before allowing a single, and that homer. Stock struck out three of the 15 batters he faced in his spot-start.
DEBUTS FOR DAYS: Scott Effross made the first appearance of his Triple-A career last night, tossing a perfect eighth inning for Iowa. He didn’t allow a single base runner, sitting down all three Storm Chasers’ he faced.
AGAINST OMAHA: Iowa and Omaha have split their eight games evenly so far, each taking four. Iowa is 3-2 at Principal Park and fell to 1-2 last night at Werner Park. They will play two more six-game series at each teams home park after this series concludes, 24 more games in all.
SHORT HOPS: In his second rehab start with Iowa last night, Jason Heyward went 2-for-3 with a run, a home run, and an RBI... Trayce Thompson stayed hot, going 2-for-4 with a double and a home run, as well as two RBI and a walk for Iowa. He now has two home runs this series against the Storm Chasers...Iowa is hitting .160 (4-for-25) with runners in scoring position this series.
