KNX @ COL Series Preview - The Smokies Are Headed to the Peach State

Written by Connor Nelson

After wrapping up a two-week homestand, the Smokies hit the road for a two-week stretch away from home, beginning with a six-game showdown against the Columbus Clingstones — the Double-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. These two clubs last faced off in mid-May at Covenant Health Park, where Columbus jumped out to a 3-0 series lead before the Smokies roared back with elite pitching to take the final three games and split the series. That turnaround included back-to-back shutouts and Corey Joyce earning Southern League Player of the Week honors for his contributions on the offensive side.

The Smokies enter this week five games behind Chattanooga and Birmingham in a tightly contested Southern League North. Both Knoxville and Columbus bring fresh identities to the league in 2025 — the Smokies having relocated from Kodak to Knoxville while retaining their nickname, and the Clingstones taking on the Smokies at home for the first time since replacing the Mississippi Braves as Atlanta's AA affiliate. The Clingstones have also revived professional baseball in Columbus, GA for the first time since 2008, now playing in the newly renovated Synovus Park. Formerly known as Golden Park, the historic venue has been transformed into a 4,000-5,000 seat ballpark following a $50 million upgrade.

First pitch of the series is set for 7:05 PM ET Tuesday night in Columbus.

Knoxville enters the series at 26-30 overall, sitting four games below .500 after dropping four of six at home to the Chattanooga Lookouts. The Smokies are 12-14 on the road this season and, with the first half winding down, they'll need to string together multiple series wins to make a push for the top spot — and secure an automatic playoff berth.

Pitching has been the backbone of this Smokies squad, with the starting rotation delivering consistent outings despite receiving less than two runs of support per start on average. While the offense has been slow to ignite, Knoxville leads the Southern League in ninth-inning batting average — a testament to their grit and refusal to go quietly.

The lineup has recently gotten a boost with the addition of two infielders: Eriandys Ramon, who notched both his first Double-A hit and home run in the series against Chattanooga, and Reivaj Garcia, a smooth defender at second base who’s already collected multiple hits in his return to Double-A.

Columbus enters the series at 23-30, sitting in last place in the Southern League South and trailing first place by ten games. The Clingstones are coming off a tough road trip, having dropped five of six in Pensacola and going 3-7 overall during their two-week stretch away from home — a span that also included three rainouts in Chattanooga (all cancelled).

Offensively, Columbus has struggled to find consistency. They hold the lowest team batting average in the league and carry the Southern League’s worst run differential at -57. Despite some standout performances from their pitching staff, the Clingstones will need a dramatic turnaround — including multiple series sweeps — to climb back into contention for a first-half title.

Players to Watch

Grant Kipp is slated to take the mound in both the opener and finale of the series — and he brings plenty of momentum. The right-hander hasn’t allowed a run in his last four starts, stretching his scoreless streak to 18 innings over five outings. That streak began against Columbus, and he’ll look to continue that dominance against a familiar lineup.Corey Joyce, who earned Southern League Player of the Week honors in the last series against the Clingstones, is also looking to return to form. Joyce torched Columbus pitching with a .522 average, 12 hits, 14 total bases, two doubles, three RBI, and a 1.186 OPS. After missing three games due to a hit-by-pitch on June 1, he’ll look to pick up where he left off against a staff he’s already handled well.

Game one will feature a marquee pitching matchup, with Columbus sending Ian Mejia to the hill. The right-hander is riding a five-game win streak and dominated the Smokies in their last meeting, tossing seven shutout innings with seven strikeouts. Mejia enters the week ranked second in the Southern League in ERA (1.21) and has emerged as one of the most consistent arms in the league. At the plate, Columbus infielder David McCabe comes in on a nine-game on-base streak with a .924 OPS over his last 10 games. However, the Smokies held him in check in their previous meeting, limiting him to just four hits in 26 at-bats at Covenant Health Park.

Probable Pitching Matchups

6/10 Tuesday, 7:05 - KNX Grant Kipp (3-2, 2.47 ERA) vs COL RHP Ian Mejia (5-0, 1.21 ERA)

6/11 Wednesday, 7:05 - KNX RHP Chris Kachmar (2-4, 4.19 ERA) vs COL RHP Lucas Braun (3-2, 4.50 ERA)

6/12 Thursday, 7:05 - KNX RHP Sam Armstrong (1-4, 4.88 ERA) vs COL RHP Blake Burkhalter (1-4, 3.35 ERA)

6/13 Friday, 7:05 - KNX RHP Nick Dean (1-1, 2.45 ERA) vs COL RHP JR Ritchie (0-1, 3.26 ERA)

6/14 Saturday, 6:05 - KNX RHP Jaxon Wiggins (1-0, 2.22 ERA) vs COL TBD (RHP Didier Fuentes)

6/15 Sunday, 1:05 - KNX RHP Grant Kipp vs COL TBD (RHP Brett Sears)

With the first half winding down, every game counts — and this six-game set in Columbus could prove pivotal for a Smokies team looking to climb the standings. With red-hot arms, timely bats, and familiar foes on the other side, expect a competitive week of baseball in Georgia.

Catch all the action live on 92.5 FM/1180 AM WKCE or stream it on MiLB.TV.