Reno Opens Two-Week Road Trip with Silver State Showdown vs. Aviators

RENO, Nev. – Following a tough series against the Oklahoma City Comets, the Reno Aces (8-19, 45-57) will head south to Las Vegas to take on their Silver State rivals, the Aviators (11-16, 60-42), the Triple-A affiliate of the Athletics. The six-game set kicks off a two-week road trip for the Aces, beginning Tuesday, July 29, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. PST.

This marks the third meeting between the two clubs in 2025. Reno opened the season with a three-game set in Las Vegas, dropping two of three. The teams met again in May at Greater Nevada Field, where they split the six-game series.

Las Vegas has been one of, if not the, best teams in the Pacific Coast League this season. They dominated the first half with a league-best 49-26 record, securing a playoff spot and the opportunity to host the PCL Championship. But the second half has told a different story. The Aviators are reeling, coming off a rough series loss to the Sacramento River Cats, in which they dropped five of six. They’ve lost nine of their last 10 and sit at 11-16 in the second half, seventh in the PCL. Their recent struggles present a prime opportunity for the Aces to get back on track this week.

Notable Aviators to watch include outfielder JJ Bleday and catcher Willie MacIver.

Bleday has been scorching since being optioned to Triple-A at the start of July. After struggling with the big-league club (.135/.273/.324, 36.4% strikeout rate), the outfielder has caught fire, slashing .349 (30-for-86) with five doubles, a triple, five home runs, and 17 RBI in 20 games. He’s logged 10 multi-hit games this month alone. Even during Las Vegas' recent skid, the former top prospect stayed hot, going 8-for-25 (.320) with two homers and four RBI against Sacramento. Bleday enters the series against the Aces looking to make his case for a return to Oakland.

MacIver has been a thorn in Reno’s side all season. In six games against the BLC-Nine, he’s gone 9-for-23 (.391) with three doubles, eight RBI, and five walks. Across the full season, the backstop is slashing .352/.420/.516 with 11 doubles, five home runs, and 41 RBI in 48 games. After a stellar May—batting .386/.463/.544—MacIver earned a call-up to the A’s, where he held his own, hitting .245 with four doubles, two homers, and four RBI in 17 games. Since returning to Las Vegas earlier this month, he’s cooled off some but enters this week’s action riding a four-game hitting streak, going 7-for-17 (.412) with a double and two RBI during that stretch.

As for the Aces, Gavin Logan has been a bright spot since joining the squad. In eight games, he’s slashing .407/.452/.852 with three doubles, three home runs, and nine RBI. He continued his strong play last week against Oklahoma City, going 3-for-11 (.273) with two home runs and six RBI in three games. The young backstop will look to stay hot against Las Vegas.

Following the six-game series against the Aviators, the Aces will wrap up their two-week road trip with a series against the Tacoma Rainiers, beginning Tuesday, August 5.

Single-game tickets for the Reno Aces’ 2025 season are on sale at RenoAces.com, the Greater Nevada Field Ticket Office, or by texting “TIXX” to 21003. Season Memberships are available via RenoAces.com, texting “MEMBER” to 21003, or calling (775) 334-7000.

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