Atlantic League Championship Series Preview - Ducks vs. Blue Crabs
AtL Long Island Ducks

Atlantic League Championship Series Preview - Ducks vs. Blue Crabs

Published on September 21, 2026 under Atlantic League (AtL)
Long Island Ducks News Release


(Central Islip, N.Y.) - The Long Island Ducks continue the 2026 Atlantic League playoffs this week when they face the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs in the best-of-five Atlantic League Championship Series. Long Island clinched the North Division Championship with a three-game sweep of the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars in the North Division Championship Series. In doing so, they earned their 10th division title all-time and first since 2021. The Blue Crabs claimed the South Division Championship with a 3-1 series win over the Lexington Legends in the South Division Championship Series, collecting their third division title all-time and first since 2015. The Ducks are seeking their fifth Atlantic League Championship in franchise history (2004, 2012, 2013, 2019), while the Blue Crabs are vying for their first.

2026 ATLANTIC LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES SCHEDULE

Game One Tue., September 22 Ducks at Blue Crabs 6:35 p.m. Regency Furniture Stadium

Game Two Wed., September 23 Ducks at Blue Crabs 6:35 p.m. Regency Furniture Stadium

Game Three Fri., September 25 Blue Crabs at Ducks 6:35 p.m. Fairfield Properties Ballpark

Game Four* Sat., September 26 Blue Crabs at Ducks 6:35 p.m. Fairfield Properties Ballpark

Game Five* Sun., September 27 Blue Crabs at Ducks 5:05 p.m. Fairfield Properties Ballpark

* - If Necessary

HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY

The Atlantic League Championship Series will feature the sixth all-time postseason series between the Ducks and Blue Crabs. Southern Maryland won the 2009 Liberty Division Championship Series 3-2, before Long Island won the Liberty Division Championship Series in 2011 (3-1), 2012 (3-2), 2013 (3-0) and the North Division Championship Series in 2021 (2-1). The Ducks have a 13-7 advantage all-time in the playoffs against the Blue Crabs, including a 6-5 edge on Long Island and a 7-2 advantage in Waldorf, Md.

The Ducks lead the all-time regular season series between the two teams 172-147. The Ducks have a 99-68 advantage at Fairfield Properties Ballpark, while the Blue Crabs have a 79-73 edge at Regency Furniture Stadium. The two sides split the 2026 season series with six wins apiece, with each team winning five of the six games played at their home ballpark. Southern Maryland won five of six vs. Long Island in Waldorf June 9-14. Long Island won two of three vs. Southern Maryland in Central Islip in the final three games of the first half June 30-July 2 and won the final three games of the regular season September 11-13 at the Duck Pond.

PITCHING MATCHUPS

The following are the probable pitching matchups for the Atlantic League Championship Series (2026 ALPB stats | 2026 Playoff stats):

GAME ONE

Ducks: RHP Tanner Jacobson (7-5, 5.59 ERA | 0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Blue Crabs: RHP Ian Kahaloa (9-9, 4.97 ERA | 0-1, 10.38 ERA)

GAME TWO

Ducks: RHP Anthony Escobar (2-0, 1.80 ERA | 1-0, 1.80 ERA) vs. Blue Crabs: RHP Kyle Virbitsky (12-8, 4.41 ERA | 1-0, 4.50 ERA)

GAME THREE

Blue Crabs: TBA vs. Ducks: LHP Nick Margevicius (6-2, 4.31 ERA | 1-0, 1.13 ERA)

GAME FOUR (IF NECESSARY)

Blue Crabs: TBA vs. Ducks: RHP Michael Dominguez (7-5, 5.76 ERA)

GAME FIVE (IF NECESSARY)

Ducks: TBA vs. Flying Boxcars: TBA

FOLLOW ALONG

Those unable to attend can follow all the action of every Ducks Atlantic League Championship Series game live on Dugout TV, powered by HomeTeam Network. The subscription service will stream every game live and on-demand. Championship Series games are included for those with existing season or annual subscriptions, while fans without a subscription can purchase one for all playoff games at a discounted rate of $9.99. Fans can follow a pitch-by-pitch account of each playoff game as well via iScore.

Tickets to all Ducks home playoff games are available by visiting the Fairfield Properties Ballpark box office, calling (631) 940-TIXX.

Those wishing to attend Games One and Two in Maryland can purchase tickets, calling (301) 638-9788 or visiting the Regency Furniture Stadium box office.

The Long Island Ducks are in their 26th season of play in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball and play their home games at Fairfield Properties Ballpark in Central Islip, N.Y. They are the all-time leader in wins and attendance in Atlantic League history, have led all MLB Partner Leagues in total attendance for six consecutive seasons, and have sold out a record 730 games all-time. For further information, visit LIDucks.com or call 631-940-DUCK (3825).

Check out the Long Island Ducks Statistics

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Atlantic League Stories from September 21, 2026


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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