HOMESTAND PREVIEW: Storm Chasers Welcome Gwinnett Stripers to Werner Park 

PAPILLION, Neb. – The Omaha Storm Chasers (5-4) welcome the Gwinnett Stripers (6-3) to Werner Park for a six-game series, April 9 to 14. The team returns to Papillion after splitting a six-game series on the road against the Columbus Clippers, with wins in three of their last four games, including Saturday and Sunday to end the week.

First pitch between the Storm Chasers and Stripers is scheduled for 12:05 p.m. on Tuesday, April 9 and Wednesday, April 10. Games three and four between Omaha and Gwinnett get going at 6:35 p.m. Thursday, April 11 and Friday, April 12 before the six-game series concludes with 2:05 p.m. starts Saturday, April 13 and Sunday, April 14.

SERIES SCHEDULE

Tuesday, April 9

Omaha vs. Gwinnett Stripers – 12:05 p.m. – MiLB TV & Bally Live – Listen at stormchasers.mixlr.com

Wednesday, April 10

Omaha vs. Gwinnett Stripers – 12:05 p.m. – MiLB TV & Bally Live – Listen at stormchasers.mixlr.com

Thursday, April 11

Omaha vs. Gwinnett Stripers – 6:35 p.m. – MiLB TV & Bally Live – Listen on NewsTalk 1290 KOIL

• Promotions:
  • Union Night: Join us as we celebrate our sister club, Union Omaha.
  • Thrifty Thursday: Get a baseline box or berm ticket, select concessions items, medium fountain Pepsi products, and Ale Storm & Busch Light cans for just $3 each, *presented by Pinnacle Bank. *First 300 tickets, limit 6 per account.

Friday, April 12

Omaha vs. Gwinnett Stripers – 6:35 p.m. – MiLB TV & Bally Live – Listen on NewsTalk 1290 KOIL

• Promotions:
  • Anger Management Night: Long-time manager Mike Jirschele is known for his fiery passion for the game and has had his fair share of ejections over the year. Take out some anger on the high striker and boxing arcade games we’ll have on the concourse during the game!
  • Stress Ball Giveaway: The first 500 fans receive a Mike Jirschele Stress Ball, courtesy of Pepsi.

Saturday, April 13

Omaha vs. Gwinnett Stripers – 2:05 p.m. – MiLB TV & Bally Live – Listen on NewsTalk 1290 KOIL

• Promotions:
  • Backwards Day: Promos run in reverse! Come to the ballpark to see if the players will run the bases in reverse too!

Sunday, April 14

Omaha vs. Gwinnett Stripers – 2:05 p.m. – MiLB TV & Bally Live – Listen on NewsTalk 1290 KOIL

• Promotions:
  • Family Funday: Featuring Wildlife Encounters, presented by Nebraska Medicine.
  • Kids Run the Bases: Kids in attendance aged 12 and under can run the bases after the game, presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska.
  • Canned Food Sunday: Bring 3 cans of non-perishable goods in exchange for one berm ticket.

ON THE MOUND

Tuesday, April 9

• Gwinnett – RHP Huascar Ynoa (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
• Omaha – RHP Jonathan Bowlan (0-1, 2.25 ERA)

Wednesday, April 10

• Gwinnett – RHP AJ Smith-Shawver (0-0, 45.00 ERA)
• Omaha – RHP Andrew Hoffmann (0-1, 7.88 ERA)

Thursday, April 11

• Gwinnett – LHP Dylan Dodd (2-0, 1.54 ERA)
• Omaha – LHP Daniel Lynch IV (1-0, 4.50 ERA)

Friday, April 12

• Gwinnett – TBA
• Omaha – TBA

Saturday, April 13

• Gwinnett – TBA
• Omaha – TBA

Sunday, April 14

• Gwinnett – TBA
• Omaha – RHP Jonathan Bowlan (0-1, 2.25 ERA)

TUNE IN

Nick Badders brings you the play-by-play action from Werner Park this week and you can watch all six games on MiLB TV or Bally Live.

The entire weeklong series between Omaha and Gwinnett can also be heard on the Omaha Storm Chasers Baseball Network. The first two games will be streamed exclusively online on Mixlr at stormchasers.mixlr.com, while the final four games of the series will locally in Omaha on NewsTalk 1290 KOIL.

HISTORY LESSON

Omaha holds an all-time record of 2-9 (.182) vs. Gwinnett, including 1-5 (.200) at Werner Park. Last year was the first time the two clubs faced each other, with the Stripers taking five of six in Papillion and four of five at Coolray Field.

This week’s matchup are the only six games Omaha and Gwinnett play in 2024, as the Storm Chasers will not travel to Coolray Field and the Stripers do not return to Werner Park this season.

Gwinnett has a pair of Royals connections on its roster. Catcher Sebastian Rivero played 45 games for Omaha between 2019 and 2021, including 42 games with a .260 average (39-for-150) and .699 OPS in 2021. Catcher Sandy León signed a Minor League free agent deal with Kansas City in January 2024 and appeared in 11 Cactus League games with the Royals, before he was released at the end of spring training and signed a Minor League contract with Atlanta on April 2.

Storm Chasers outfielder Drew Waters played for Gwinnett from 2019 to 2022, appearing in 178 games for the Stripers before he was traded to Kansas City in July 2022. Omaha infielder CJ Alexander is also a former Braves prospect and appeared in 250 games in their system after being drafted by Atlanta in 2018, though he did not reach Triple-A Gwinnett and was with Double-A Mississippi at the time of his trade to the Royals.

#5Things (X/Twitter-friendly notes)

1: Defense On Display

The @OMAStormChasers defense has made just 1 error in 315 chances over the first 9 games of the 2024 season for a .997 fielding percentage, the top mark in the IL. The Chasers haven’t made a fielding or throwing error, just a caught stealing error (interference) on March 30.

2: Seeing It Like CJ

CJ Alexander has been the top @OMAStormChasers hitter through the first 9 games of the 2024 season. He leads the Storm Chasers in homers (2), hits (10), doubles (4), extra-base hits (6), total bases (20), runs batted in (8), average (.294), slugging (.588) and OPS (.882).

3: Reliable Relievers

The @OMAStormChasers relievers have combined for a 3.83 ERA through the first 9 games of 2024, with a .188 opponents’ average against the bullpen. Three relievers have yet to allow a run this year: Walter Pennington (7.0 IP), Sam Long (4.2 IP) and Will Klein (4.0 IP).

4: Strong Starts

The @OMAStormChasers got a pair of strong starts over the weekend in Columbus. Daniel Lynch IV held the Clippers to one run over 5.0 innings to earn the first starter win on Saturday. William Fleming threw 4.2 scoreless innings with six strikeouts in his Triple-A debut on Sunday.

5: That’s What Speed Do

After stealing just three bases in the opening weekend against Iowa, the @OMAStormChasers swiped 10 bases in 13 tries last week at Columbus. Nick Pratto and Tyler Tolbert are tied for the team lead with three stolen bases, while Cam Devanney and Drew Waters each have two steals.