April 16 - Mudcats Game Notes

DOWNLOAD the full game notes packet.
CAROLINA MUDCATS (MILWAUKEE BREWERS) at WILMINGTON BLUE ROCKS (KANSAS CITY ROYALS)
Monday, April 16, 2018 | 6:35 PM | Game 12, Away Game 5 | at Daniel S. Frawley Stadium | Wilmington, DE
RADIO: WDWG, Big Dawg 98.5 FM
STREAMING AUDIO: www.carolinamudcats.com, TuneIn Radio
STREAMING VIDEO: -
Overall Record: CAR: 6-5; WIL: 4-6
Streaks: CAR: W1; WIL: W1
Last 10 Games: CAR: 5-5, WIL: 4-6
Home Record: CAR: 5-2; WIL: 2-1
Road Record: CAR: 1-3; WIL: 2-5 
Division Record: CAR: 4-4; WIL: 4-6
Current Series: First game (of 3)
Season Series: First game (of 7)
CAR v. OPP: 0-0 @CAR (4), 0-0 @OPP (3)
UPCOMING PROBABLE STARTERS:
TODAY, 4/16, 6:35 PM: Carolina RHP Marcos Diplan (0-0, 2.53) at Wilmington LHP Cristian Castillo (0-1, 4.35)
TUE, 4/17, 6;35 PM: Carolina RHP Trey Supak (0-0, 0.90) at Wilmington RHP Jace Vines (0-2, 12.91)
WED, 4/18, 10:35 AM: Carolina LHP Nathan Kirby (0-1, 11.25) at Wilmington RHP Ofriedy Gomez (0-0, 4.91)
THU, 4/19, 7:00 PM: Buies Creek TBD at Carolina LHP Cam Roegner (1-0, 0.00)
ICYMI: Dallas Carroll went 2-for-3 with two runs and two doubles, Robie Rojas also went 2-for-3 with two runs and starter Braden Webb held the Dash to two runs over five and 1/3 innings as the Mudcats won a rain shortened, eight inning game 6-2 on Sunday at BB&T Ballpark in Winston-Salem. With the victory, the Mudcats (6-5) managed to salvage a victory, while finishing 1-3 in their four game road series against the Dash (7-4) in Winston-Salem. The win also snapped Carolina's three game losing streak and was the club's first road win this season.
ABOUT THE LAST ONE: The Mudcats scored six runs in yesterday's 6-2 victory in Winston-Salem and did so without hitting a home run. The Mudcats had totaled five homers over the first three games of their four game set in Winston-Salem; with those homers combining to drive in seven of their eight runs in the series. In all, the Mudcats scored 14 runs over the four game set, with home runs accounting for half of that production.
VS. BLUE ROCKS: The Mudcats continue their first road trip of the season with game one of a three game series versus the Blue Rocks at Daniel S. Frawley Stadium in Wilmington tonight. Tonight's game is also the first of seven between the two teams this season... The Mudcats went 5-2 against the Blue Rocks last year, including a 2-1 record at home and 3-1 record in Wilmington.
MUDCATS STARTER: Opening Night starter Marcos Diplan enters tonight's start at 0-0 with 2.53 ERA (10.2 IP, 5 BB, 6 SO) over two starts this season with the Mudcats. Diplan last pitched on 4/11 versus the Keys and worked through 5.0 innings with three strikeouts, two walks and two unearned runs allowed on five hits. Diplan enters the 2018 season rated as the No. 22 prospect in the Brewers system by Baseball America. He is the only Mudcat currently on the Brewers 40-man roster. Diplan pitched to a 5.23 ERA and went 7-8 over 26 games and 22 starts with the Mudcats last season. He also totaled 119 strikeouts, 71 walks and 126 hits allowed (.266 average against) over 125.2 innings in 2017. 
OPP STARTER: Left-hander Cristian Castillo enters tonight's game at 0-1 and has pitched to a 4.35 ERA (10.1 IP, 5 BB, 5 SO) over two starts for Wilmington this season. He last pitched on 4/10 in Salem where he suffered the loss after giving up three runs on four hits over 5.2 innings pitched. Castillo was named a 2017 Carolina League All-Star after going 4-3 with a 2.80 ERA (70.2 IP, 54 SO) over 13 first half starts last year. He finished the year going 3-9 with a 5.45 ERA (71.0 IP, 51 SO) in the second half. Overall, Castillo went 7-12 with a 4.13 ERA in 26 starts with the Blue Rocks in 2017. He was also the 2016 Pioneer League Pitcher of the Year while pitching for Burlington.
GOT CLUTCH: Despite going 4-for-9 with runners in scoring position yesterday, the Mudcats are still collectively batting just .208 with runners in scoring position this season (7th in the CL). They are additionally batting only .190 as a team with runners in scoring position and with two-outs in an inning (8th in the CL). The Mudcats have also stranded 82 runners on base overall this year (3rd most in the CL).
STAFF SPLITS: The Mudcats bullpen is currently 4-3 with a 5.48 ERA and a 5.9 BB/9ip ratio so far this season. Opponents are batting .285 against Carolina relievers and the bullpen has converted just four saves in eight opportunities... Conversely, Carolina's starting rotation is 2-2 with a 2.40 ERA (4.81 BB/9, 6.84 SO/9) over 11 games this year.
WHERE THEY RANK:Luis Aviles Jr. Jr. is tied for 2nd in the Carolina League in stolen bases (6)… Clint Coulter leads the CL in strikeouts (18), but is also tied for 3rd in the CL in extra-base hits (6)... Luke Barker is tied for 3rd among all CL pitchers in WHIP (0.67).
QUIET START: Keston Hiura has been held without a hit in five of his eight total games played this season and is batting just .167 (5-for-30). Hiura was held without a hit in just five of his 42 total games played between the AZL Brewers and Wisconsin Timber Rattlers last season.
INJURY PLAGUED: Several 2018 Mudcats are coming off injury plagued seasons, including… Keston Hiura who suffered a right elbow injury in college and was limited to DH duties during his 2017 season. Hiura also finished 2017 season on the Wisconsin disabled list (8/16-9/2) with a strained left hamstring… Tucker Neuhaus suffered a bone bruise in his knee during a rundown last July and missed the remainder of the season with Wisconsin. He also broke his wrist in April of 2016 and missed the majority of the 2016 season… Nathan Kirby missed the 2016 and 2017 seasons after undergoing "Tommy John" surgery in September of 2015… Cam Roegner missed time with Low-A Wisconsin from 6/2/17-7/10/17 after being placed on disabled list with left shoulder inflammation. He later finished the 2017 season on the disabled list after landing on DL on 8/5/17 with a left elbow strain… Chase Williams began the 2017 in extended spring training before being placed on the DL on 6/18/17 with ulnar nerve transposition. He returned from DL on 8/11/17 and made his Wisconsin debut on 8/19/17 after six rehab games with the AZL Brewers.
THE MUDCATS HAVE…
... Had just two players steal a base this season (Aviles, Carroll).
... Allowed only five stolen bases this season (9 CS, 14 ATT).
... 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).

[Empty Body]