Preview: Big League rivalry invades Triple-A
West Sacramento, CA - It's Giants versus Dodgers to close out the month of May as the Sacramento River Cats (20-28) host the Oklahoma City Dodgers (24-21) for a four game series.
Scouting the Teams
The Oklahoma City Dodgers enter play this weekend in a heated battle with the Omaha Storm Chasers for first place in the American Northern Division and currently sit one game behind in the American Northern division. As a team, the Dodgers are hitting .232 on the road while their pitching staff has 15-11 record with a 4.44 ERA away from Oklahoma City. They have the third best team ERA in the Pacific Coast League (4.17), but lead the league in strikeouts with 424 swings and misses on offense.
The Sacramento River Cats will look for their second series win a row this weekend and to improve upon their 8-12 home record. The River Cats are hitting .243 as a team at Raley Field while Sacramento pitchers have a cumulative ERA of 3.61, allowing a .250 batting average against. As a team, Sacramento ranks third in the PCL in hits (446) and home runs (44) and are hitting .267 as a team in their last five games. Defensively, the River Cats sit fourth in the league with a .981 fielding percentage and have seen their team ERA shrink to 4.20, good for fifth best.
Players to Watch
Third baseman Rob Segedin has been the offensive catalyst this year for Oklahoma City, ranking first on the team in batting average (.314), home runs (7), RBI (25), and runs (32). Second baseman Micah Johnson comes in with six hits in his last 16 at bats (.375) with a home run. Recently promoted first baseman O'Koyea Dickerson comes in 5-for-13 (.385) in his last four games with two RBI and three runs scored. The pitching staff is highlighted by standouts Zach Lee and Jharel Cotton. Cotton, a right-handed pitcher ranked as the Dodgers' 17th best prospect, is 3-3 this year with a 5.97 ERA but sits fifth in the PCL with 46 strikeouts.
Curios about Urias: Julio Urias, MLB.com's No.2 overall prospect, was called up to make his first big league start for the Los Angeles Dodgers today against the New York Mets. Urias was just 16-years-old when he made his minor league debut and will be the first 19-year-old to start a Major League game since Felix Hernandez in 2005.
The man looking to match Lee's league-leading six wins is tonight's starter Ty Blach (5-3, 3.75 ERA). The left-hander is currently ranked as the Giants' 20th best prospect and in his last three starts, went 18 innings while allowing six earned runs on 14 hits and striking out 11. Friday's starting pitcher, Chris Stratton, currently leads the River Cats staff in innings pitched (52 1/3) and strikeouts (36). Offensively, second baseman Ramiro Pena is 6-for-19 (.316) over his last five games with four RBI and four runs scored. Catcher Andrew Susac and left fielder Mac Williamson have been an integral part of the team's recent offensive success hitting fourth and fifth in the lineup. The two have gone 7-for-24 (.292) in their last three games with seven RBI and four runs.
Matchup History
Although the rivalry just began last year when the River Cats changed their affiliation, a win versus the Dodgers is just a sweet. In the four-game series last year in June, Sacramento not only beat Oklahoma City, they swept them. The River Cats outscored the Dodgers 22-11 with some familiar pitchers earning wins in Ty Blach, Clayton Blackburn, and current Giant Cory Gearrin. In the 72 games played all-time between the two teams, Sacramento has won 40. The series this weekend will be the only one of the 2016 season.
Probable Pitchers
Friday, May 26 (7:05 p.m. PT): LHP Ty Blach (5-3, 3.75) • Dodgers: RHP Carlos Firas (0-1, 12.00)
Saturday, May 28 (7:05 p.m. PT): RHP Chris Stratton (4-4, 6.60) • RHP Ross Stripling (0-0, No ERA)
Sunday, May 29 (1:05 p.m. PT): RHP Joan Gregorio (0-1, 3.60) • RHP Jharel Cotton (3-3, 5.97)
Monday, May 30 (1:05 p.m. (PT): LHP Matt Lujan (0-3, 4.76) • LHP Hyun-Jon Ryu (0-0, No ERA)
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The Sacramento River Cats are the Triple-A affiliate of the 2014 World Champion San Francisco Giants. The team plays at Raley Field in West Sacramento, consistently voted one of the top ballparks in America. River Cats Season Tickets, Mini-Plans, and Flex Plans can be purchased for the 2016 season by calling the River Cats Ticket Hotline at (916) 371-HITS (4487). For more information about the River Cats, visit www.rivercats.com. For information on other events at Raley Field, visit www.raleyfield.com.