Yankees on a roll heading into playoffs

Lowell vs. Staten Island
Best-of-3 semifinals begin Tuesday, Sept. 8

Lowell

• Stedler Division champions
• Overall record: 45-30
• Statistical leaders >>
• Postseason roster >>

Staten Island

• McNamara Division champions
• Overall record: 47-29
• Statistical leaders >>
• Postseason roster >>

Staten Island has all the momentum heading into this local renewal of the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry. The Baby Bombers raced past Brooklyn to capture another McNamara Division title, winning 14 of their last 16 games, including a club-record 13 straight.

The Yankees have a healthy balance of pitching and offense, leading the league with a 2.53 ERA and ranking second with a .255 batting average. Outfielder Neil Medchill hit a league-leading 14 homers, though he batted .230 in August. DeAngelo Mack is an all-around threat (.306, seven homers, 41 RBIs), while All-Star MVP Jimmy Paredes was fifth in the league with 23 stolen bases.

Adam Warren (4-2, 1.43 ERA) is the ace of a staff that features no fewer than nine pitchers with ERAs under 2.50.

The Spinners have their own ace in Jose Alvarez (8-3), who started the All-Star Game and led the league with a 1.52 ERA, two complete games and two shutouts. Lowell was right behind Staten Island with a 2.96 ERA. And while seven pitchers recorded at least one save, Dennis Neuman was 1-0 with seven saves, a 1.45 ERA and .147 opponents' batting average.

The Spinners weren't shabby at the plate, ranking second with 352 runs and third with a .253 batting average. Only Hudson Valley stole more bases than Lowell, with outfielder Wilfred Pichardo and infielder Derrik Gibson combining for 60 thefts in 74 tries.

Brooklyn vs. Mahoning Valley
Best-of-3 semifinals begin Tuesday, Sept. 8

Brooklyn

• Wild Card winners
• Overall record: 45-30
• Statistical leaders >>
• Postseason roster >>

Mahoning Valley

• Pinckney Division champions
• Overall record: 49-27
• Statistical leaders >>
• Postseason roster >>

The Scrappers are in the playoffs for the first time since winning the championship in 2004. Led by second-year manager Travis Fryman, they completed a stunning turnaround from a 12th place finish in 2008 to a franchise-record 49 wins.

Like Staten Island, Mahoning Valley balances a productive offense with a stingy pitching staff. The Scrappers led the league with 654 runs and a .256 batting average while ranking third with a 3.03 ERA.

Jordan Henry is the table-setter with a league-leading .408 on-base percentage and 46 runs scored.

Mahoning Valley also boasts two solid starting pitchers in right-hander Brett Brach (5-2, 2.19) and Marty Popham (6-1, 2.76). And Cory Burns (3-2, 1.93) converted 11 of 14 save opportunities while limiting foes to a .157 batting average.

If there's a team that can match the Scrappers on the mound, it's Brooklyn. First-year skipper Pedro Lopez has an impressive trio in Brandon Moore (6-3, 2.09), Mark Cohoon (9-2, 2.15) and Collin McHugh (8-2 2.76). On Aug. 23, Moore pitched the first no-hitter in team history, blanking Aberdeen in the first game of a doubleheader.

The Cyclones ranked 10th in the 14-team league with a .241 batting average but led the circuit with 18 one-run victories. All-Star outfielder Luis Rivera (.297, 4, 34) is Brooklyn's most serious offensive threat. He led the team with 13 steals, though only one team had fewer thefts than the Cyclones' 52.