Arrieta Expected To Make Rehab Start

Chicago Cubs right-hander Jake Arrieta is expected to begin his Major League Rehab Assignment with the Smokies and start tonight's contest against the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. First pitch is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium.

The 28-year-old owns a 24-27 Major League record and 5.23 ERA (238 ER in 409.2 IP) in 78 games (72 starts) between the Baltimore Orioles and Chicago Cubs. Selected by the Orioles in the fifth round of the 2007 MLB Draft out of Texas Christian University, the Texas native was acquired by the Cubs, along with right-hander Pedro Strop and two international signing bonus slots in a July 2, 2013 trade that sent right-hander Scott Feldman and former Tennessee Smokies catcher Steve Clevenger to Baltimore.

Arrieta made nine starts for the Cubs following the deal, compiling a 4-2 mark and 3.66 ERA (21 ER in 51.2 IP), and earned victories in each of his final two outings of the year. In his four seasons with the Orioles, the right-hander accumulated a 20-25 clip and 5.46 ERA (217 ER in 358.0 IP). The Texas native was Baltimore's 2012 Opening Day starter on April 6, and became the first pitcher in club history to throw seven shutout innings while allowing two or fewer hits on Opening Day in his outing against the Minnesota Twins.

Tennessee will look to take a 2-1 series lead over the Blue Wahoos following their 1-0 victory last night, their first of the 2014 campaign. Starter C.J. Edwards (4.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 4 SO), along with relievers P.J. Francescon (3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 2 SO) and Armando Rivero (2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 BB, 4 SO) combined to shut out Pensacola, while the Smokies got all the offense they would need from infielder Kris Bryant. The 22-year-old Bryant blasted a solo shot to left in the seventh, his second longball of the season, to break the scoreless draw and push Tennessee to victory.

Slated to face off against Arrieta tonight is Pensacola right-hander Robert Stephenson, who is rated the top Reds prospect by Baseball America, in addition to the 19th-best overall prospect. The California native ended his 2013 season with the Blue Wahoos, compiling an 0-2 record and 4.86 ERA (9 ER in 16.2 IP) in four starts.

Fans can catch tonight's broadcast on the Smokies Radio Network, with the "Voice of the Smokies" Mick Gillispie entering his eighth season as Tennessee's Director of Broadcasting. Gillispie is assisted by Greg Young and Keith Brake. Young and Brake will host the Pilot/Oscar Meyer Pre-Game Show, which will begin at 7:15 p.m. ET.

Below are more news and notes on tonight's game, direct from the Smokies Game Notes, as compiled by Director of Media Relations Andrew Green.

ONE FOR THE MONEY, TWO FOR THE SHOW: INF Kris Bryant blasted his second homer in as many Double-A contests last night in the Smokies' 1-0 win over Pensacola...His first longball came on Thursday evening on his first swing of the season off Reds RHP Mat Latos, who was making a Major League Rehab Appearance with the Blue Wahoos...Bryant also homered in his first two games with High-A Daytona last year...The Nevada native is tied with Birmingham INF Jamie Pedroza for the Southern League lead in that category, in addition to tied for second in Minor League Baseball...The 22-year-old mashed a total of 46 roundtrippers last season between college (31), the Minor League Baseball regular season (nine) and Arizona Fall League (six).

TAKE THAT AND REWIND IT BACK: With hits in each of the first two games of 2014, OF Rubi Silva has recorded a hit in each of his last seven contests dating back to August 29 of last season...In that span, the Cuba native has compiled a .259 average (7-27) with two runs and three doubles...OF John Andreoli, meanwhile, had a pair of streaks that went back to 2013 end last night, including a five-game hit streak...Between 8/29/13 and 4/3/14, Andreoli accumulated a .375 mark (6-16), adding one double, an RBI and a walk...The outfielder also saw his ten-game road on-base streak snapped, during which he posted a .343 clip (12-35) with six runs, two extra-base hits, an RBI and four walks.

KEEPING IT TIGHT: Each of the last eight meetings between Tennessee and Pensacola dating back to last season have been decided by three or fewer runs, with the two teams splitting those matchups 4-4...Five of those eight contests have been one-run ballgames...Pensacola in 2013 played in 50 games (21-29) that were decided by just one run, which ranked first in the league, while Tennessee participated in 48 (21-27), the third-highest total.

DEJA VU?: Last night's 1-0 nine inning victory marked the first time the Smokies won a nine-inning contest by the score of 1-0 since April 6, 2012 at Chattanooga, with both of those contest sharing similarities...Both games were not only the second contests of their respective seasons for the Smokies, but were also decided by a solo homer...INF Kris Bryant's solo shot in the seventh turned out to be the game-winner last night versus the Blue Wahoos, while former OF Michael Burgess blasted one of his own in the sixth inning in 2012 against the Lookouts.

Tonight's broadcast will air on the Smokies Radio Network's flagship station 99.1 WNML The Sports Animal, as well as online at smokiesbaseball.com, and can also be heard on the Smokies' mobile app. Click the link below to listen live online.

Listen to the Smokies and Blue Wahoos, April 5, 2014