Not to mention Musikfest.
The IronPigs return home to face the hated Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders this week in a standard series. We’ll be dodging rain storms all week, so take the overview below with a grain of salt and be sure to check the socials and your email if you have tickets to a game or six. I’ve joked that since the ‘Pigs put so much money into the warning track reconstruction and drainage that they’d insist on no rain-outs this season. This week will test them. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if we end up adding a doubleheader game up in Moosic the week of 9/10-9/15–the penultimate series of the season and the only other time these two teams meet.
The IronPigs return from Jacksonville and Rochester atop the International League East at 20-12–but that’s irrelevant. You need to be tops in the entire I.L. to secure the second-half playoff birth and an all-expenses trip to Omaha, Nebraska. (The Stormchasers, AAA-Royals, won the first half.) The Pigs are 2.0 games back of Columbus (AAA-Guardians) in the I.L. West for that honor. The Clippers are on a tear, though, 5 wins in a row and 8-2 in their last 10, so they could cool. It’s all kind of silly for one away playoff series between teams who play wildly different schedules.
How are the IronPigs doing it? It’s the time-honored formula for winning baseball: They are hitting better and also pitching better. They have a +47 run differential, by far tops in the league for the second half. They’ve also been cutting down on the errors a bit, which has been a problem all season.
One other note: OF Cal Stevenson has been on fire and was named IL Player of the Month for July. Take a peek at his July stats when you have a chance, they are a thing to behold.
This Series
Including this series, there are four home-stands left in the 2024 season.
Tuesday
Probable Starter: RHP Taijuan Walker (MLB Rehab)
Game Time: 7:05PM
Gates: 5:45PM East /5:30PM West
Promotion/Theme: Phillie Phanatic Appearance, Youth Cap Giveaway, Tail-Waggin’ Tuesday, $1.06 Hot Dogs, Recovery Night (pre-game circle in the outfield)
Notable: No ABS/Challenge when Walker is pitching, at least. MLB baseballs used when he’s pitching. Watch his velocity on the scoreboard to see if he can get over 90MPH–because he couldn’t in Reading last Wednesday I don’t care what anyone says.
Wednesday
Probable Starter: RHP Mick Abel
Game Time: 7:05PM
Gates: 5:45PM East / 5:30PM West
Promotion/Theme: Festers Night, Adult Cap Giveaway, Tacos & Tallboys
Notable: Mick Abel is currently on the ‘Development List’ which means next to nothing. Following his start last Tuesday in Jacksonville it was determined that they wouldn’t turn him around in five days to pitch on Sunday (and with an eye on the Hurricane, no doubt). So there’s plenty of time to activate him and using that Dev List designation for a starting pitcher just gives you an extra roster spot. There was a rumor going around that he was “shut down for the season” which isn’t true. They could still do that of course, but it hasn’t happened yet.
Thursday
Probable Starter: RHP Nick Nelson
Game Time: 7:05PM
Gates: 5:00PM East* / 5:30PM West
Promotion/Theme: Happy Hour* presented by Twisted Tea, Malmo Oat Milkers (I have not idea), Softball Night with HR Derby in the outfield followed by parade pre-game.
Notable: Nick Nelson has been pitching much better of late. He started really poorly and I was afraid he was cooked. This is why I try really hard not to go online and say bad things about players. You never know exactly what they’re working on or what they’re going through, including minor injuries or just ramping up.
Friday
Probable Starter: RHP David Buchanan
Game Time: 7:05PM
Gates: 5:45 East / 5:30 West
Promotion/Theme: Scrapple Night, Fireworks, Scout Night with Pinewood Derby in the Plaza, Pre-game parade around the warning track, Post-game sleep-over on the field (No Camp Fires!)
Notable: LHP David Parkinson was released this past weekend. He seemed like a good dude, but I never met him.
Saturday
Probable Starter: RHP Ricardo Pinto
Game Time: 6:35PM
Gates: 5:15 East / 5:00 West
Promotion/Theme: Salute To Philadelphia (Mummers?), Cap Giveaway, Fireworks
Sunday
Probable Starter: TBA
Game Time: 1:35PM
Gates: 12:15 East / 12:00 West
Promotion/Theme: Football Day. Youth Jersey giveaway. Pre-game cheer performances. Digging Awareness.
Notable: Who knows how many doubleheaders we will have had by this point. Weather looks good for this one, though, and maybe this will be a double-dip. Wear your football jersey if it’s not too hot. That’s fun stuff.
The Enemy
The erstwhile Trolley Frogs roll into town in 5th place in the IL East and 5.5 games back of Columbus and 3.5 games back of the ‘Pigs. Trying not to lose these games, eh? They are 7-3 in their last 10 and riding a 2-game winning streak. By way of prospects they have had some significant injures. But, OF Jasson Domiguez is healthy. RHP Will Warren is set to pitch Tuesday night, although he’s struggled at times this season. INF Jorbit Vivas is here. RHP Yoendres Gomez is set to start Friday night.
See you at the park,
@Kram207
Featured Image by Jack Mitroka