Ruoff Mortgage Homestand Preview: June 7-12

Well, this is the one we’ve been waiting for since April. Ever since the Cedar Rapids Kernels took the lead in the Midwest League’s West Division, they have been a tough customer in terms of relinquishing it. The Minnesota Twins affiliate is looking to cap off the first half with a division title, but they’ll have to go through the South Bend Cubs to do it. Can South Bend make one last bid for first place? We’ll find out this week.

It’s a big one to say the least for the Cubs. After dropping five of six games versus the East Division leading Dayton Dragons, South Bend has dug themselves a bit of a whole to climb out of. They are now five games back of first place, and three games back of second place held by the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.

The good news? The Cubs mostly control their own destiny. They already have one six game sweep at home this season over the Peoria Chiefs, and in total on that homestand they won 11 of 12 games. Will handling Cedar Rapids be that seemingly easy? Not likely. But this is a South Bend team that plays their best baseball in Downtown South Bend.

Lance Rymel’s ballclub is the only Midwest League team with 20 wins at home, and they own the best home record in the league at 20-7. A split would do the Cubs no good here. They must win the series and then focus their attention on a road clash next week against Quad Cities in Davenport, Iowa.

But one step at a time. Because this is a Kernels team that is packed with talent on the mound and at the plate. With a record of 33-18, former Big Leaguer Brian Dinkelman is back for his third season as the manager in Cedar Rapids.

In 2019, Derek Casey and Peyton Remy combined to no-hit the Kernels with Dinkelman in charge. Last year, the Cubs had three walk-offs in a single series against this team.

Let’s see if that same home magic can carry over into some summer nights in South Bend.

Players to watch on Cedar Rapids…

Christian Encarnacion-Strand, INF: We have to talk about this guy not only because of the numbers he has put up this whole season, but also the absolute chaos he rampaged on to begin the campaign. There was no Midwest League hitter though the first two weeks that could even keep up with the pace that Christian Encarnacion-Strand had set. The Minnesota Twins 4th round pick in 2021 out of Oklahoma State arrived on the scene and took no prisoners. He hit two home runs on Opening Day against Beloit, then added another round tripper the next day. That was followed with another multi-home run game on the road at Quad Cities on April 15. In all, Encarnacion-Strand hit .410 in April with the five homers and 23 RBI. Things have cooled off slightly, as he’s now hitting a much more modest .303. However, the start of June has also been kind to him. He is on a five game hitting streak to open the month and is 8/23 at the plate after a series against the Lansing Lugnuts. Cubs pitchers will have their hands full with this guy.

Brent Headrick, LHP: The former Illinois State Redbird Brent Headrick is looking more like the steal of the 2019 draft by the day. Selected in the 9th round that year, Headrick has been nothing but exceptional this season with a 1.90 ERA in nine starts, and a 5-1 record. In just over 42 innings, Headrick has surrendered nine runs on 24 hits, while walking nine and striking out 56. By the way, batters are hitting just .161 against him. Those sound like DJ Herz numbers. More on him later. Interestingly, Headrick has surrendered two runs in each of his last two starts. The most he has struggled came on April 22 versus Peoria, in which he allowed three runs and walked four in a season low 3.2 innings. You know the sign of a good pitcher though? When they can put starts like that in the rear view mirror quickly. After that game against the Chiefs, he rattled off 20.1 consecutive scoreless innings from April 28 to May 22. He is scheduled to start on Friday night.

Bradley Hanner, RHP: One big reason why Cedar Rapids has seen so much success is their bullpen has been just as solid as their starting rotation. Bradley Hanner is not the Kernels closer, although he really is putting up a reason to be. The former 21st round pick by the Twins in 2019 out of Patrick Henry Community College has put together his best numbers to date in pro baseball. His first season in the Gulf Coast League (really tough place to pitch) saw him post a 4.39 ERA. Then in the Florida State League last season (another tough place to be a pitcher) that ERA went up to 7.13. This season, it’s at 1.61 in 15 outings. Really good. Is the Midwest League an easier place to pitch in than the Sunshine State? Probably. But with the caliber of hitters we have seen, it’s still not an easy job. Plus, that 1.61 ERA is actually inflated. Hanner is coming off of his first time struggling this season after giving up three earned runs against Lansing on June 2. His ERA before that? 0.45. This guy can shove.

Players to watch on South Bend…

Owen Caissie, OF: When one of your guys wins the Chicago Cubs Minor League Player of the Month Award, you’ve gotta start with him on the Ruoff Mortgage Homestand Report. It’s a rule. Whether Caissie got that honor or it went to someone else, he still had an outstanding May. And on Monday, he was recognized by the folks in Chicago for his stellar work. It’s no secret that the 19-year-old Canadian needed some time to adjust to High-A baseball, as expected. But once he got comfortable, oh boy. Pitchers were not going to be having fun. The Cubs continue to lead the league in batting average and base hits. Caissie has been a big reason why over the last month. With his first multi-homer game in Wisconsin, to the 108 MPH exit veto blast at Four Winds Field a couple weeks ago, to the raw power we see daily, Caissie is getting the attention of a lot of people. Hitting .313 in May as a teenager will surely do that. He is on a terror right now, but it’s the top offense in the Midwest League going against the team with the lowest ERA. Which side comes out on top?

DJ Herz, LHP: There was plenty of hardware up for grabs when it came to Monday afternoon in the Cubs organization. Caissie with the MiLB Cubs Player of the Month, and DJ Herz grabbing the Midwest League Pitcher of the Week. Herz has been nearly unhittable, and it’s a shame that we won’t get to see an all Southpaw matchup this week of Herz versus Headrick. Nonetheless, it’s going to be a double dosage of Herz in this series. And since the Cubs need wins, they’re putting their best foot forward when it comes to starting pitching. Herz, who is on a heck of a revenge tour trying to defend his Chicago Cubs Minor League Pitcher of the Year award, just posted a career high in strikeouts against arguably the best team in the league in the Dayton Dragons at their place. 12 K’s for Herz on a day that he was in full control. It’s the second time in his career that he has had double digit strikeouts, and there seems to be no stopping the progress that he continues to make. Two starts ago, he pulled in his first victory of 2022. Last time out, it was the career high K day. What’s next? Could it be dominating the opposition when the Cubs need him most? Let’s find out.

Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF: Pete Crow-Armstrong has not even stepped foot on the diamond at Four Winds Field yet, but he already has his first Midwest League home run. It came in his MWL series debut at Dayton this past week on a big barreling ball hit over the center field wall. Interestingly, both Brennen Davis and PCA crushed their first homer in the Midwest League in Dayton. Good things come to some of the most talented Cubs prospects there. The home debut of PCA has been expected for months. You just knew eventually he would get the call from Myrtle Beach and be here. But what should fans expect? With the Pelicans, he was getting some of the best coaching possible from Buddy Bailey. PCA is still only 20-years-old, but look at what Owen Caissie is doing at 19. The sky is the limit for the guy who was acquired in a one-off trade for Javy Baez. Let’s go.

Schedule…

Tuesday, June 7 - 7:05 PM ET: LHP DJ Herz vs RHP Sawyer Gipson-Long

Wednesday, June 8 - 7:05 PM ET: RHP Manuel Espinoza vs RHP John Stankiewicz

Thursday, June 9 - 7:05 PM ET: RHP Joe Nahas vs RHP David Festa

Friday, June 10 - 7:05 PM ET: RHP Daniel Palencia vs LHP Brent Headrick

Saturday, June 11 - 7:05 PM ET: LHP Jordan Wicks vs LHP Aaron Rozek/RHP Sean Mooney

Sunday, June 12 - 2:05 PM ET: RHP Kohl Franklin vs LHP Cade Povich

Catch the entire six-game series in South Bend on Sports Radio 960 AM WSBT, online at wsbtradio.com, or on MiLB.com with Brendan King and Max Thoma on the call. Thursday night’s game is set to be aired live on Marquee Sports Network.