MWL1 Fort Wayne TinCaps

TinCaps Game Notes: August 25 at South Bend (Games 129 & 130)

August 25, 2018 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Fort Wayne TinCaps News Release


Fort Wayne TinCaps (27-32, 59-69) @ South Bend Cubs (27-33, 61-68)

Game 1: RHP Mason Thompson vs. RHP Enrique De Los Rios

Game 2: RHP Reiss Knehr vs. RHP Brendan King

Saturday, Aug. 25 - Four Winds Field (South Bend, Ind.) - Game 1: 5:30 PM (Games 129 & 130/138)

LISTEN: ESPN Radio 1380 & 100.9 FM / TuneIn / TinCapsRadio.com

WATCH: MiLB.TV

FRIDAY NIGHT: Luis Patiño was sharp through six innings, but the TinCaps fell, 3-2, against the Cubs. The Padres #12 ranked prospect allowed only 3 hits, 1 walk, and 1 run, while striking out seven. In the setback, Jalen Washington cranked a shot over the wall in left to give him a home run in back-to-back days for the second time this season with the first time coming back on June 28 & 29.

HOT & COLD: After matching their longest winning streak of the season with 6 in a row from Aug. 12-18, the TinCaps have matched their longest losing streak of the season losing 6 in a row. The only other time they lost 6 in a row this season was when they started 0-6 to begin the year.

LACK OF TIMELY HITTING: During their current 6-game skid, the TinCaps are 7-for-44 (.159 AVG) with runners in scoring position with 33 left on base. On the year, Fort Wayne has batted .244 with RISP.

CLOSE CALLS: The TinCaps are 17-24 (.415) in 1-run games this year. That's the 2nd lowest winning percentage in 1-run games in the MWL this year (only Burlington has been less successful at 12-30). Fort Wayne is 11-18 (.379) in 2-run games - 3rd worst in the league. So that's a 28-41 (.405) mark in 1 or 2-run games. During this skid, the 'Caps have led in 4 of the 6 losses.

CHANGIN: With the debuts of Michael Cantu and Gabe Mosser on Thursday, the TinCaps have now used 53 different players on the team this season (22 position players and 31 pitchers). Fort Wayne used 53 players during the regular season in 2017. In 2016, the 'Caps had a franchise record 63 players over the course of the regular season.

ALL ROSY: In the MWL, Jeisson Rosario ranks 7th in runs (73), tied for 5th in walks (64), and 8th in OBP (.376). Looking to advanced stats, he's tied for 8th in BB/K (0.65), 9th in BB% (13%), and 10th in Swing & Miss % (8%). Rosario had a solid first half of the season (.269/.381/.322 with 7 extra-base hits in 56 games), but has been better since the break (.277/.369/.382 with 15 extra-base hits in 52 games).

MILLER MASHING: In his first 15 games as a TinCap since making his debut Aug. 8, Owen Miller has slashed .364/.377/.576 with 8 doubles (most in Class A), 2 homers, and 5 RBIs. The last time the 'Caps had a rookie shortstop join them in the second half was 2014 when Trea Turner slashed .369/.447/.529 in 46 games.

SUWINSKI THRIVING: Over his last 23 games since July 31, Jack Suwinski has the 2nd highest OPS in the Midwest League at 1.055. Suwinski has slashed .349/.417/.639 with 5 doubles, 2 triples, 5 homers, and 21 RBIs in this range. In his first 78 games of the season, Suwinski was at .202/.274/.326 with 10 doubles, and 5 homers.

ARI-SERIOUS?!: Gabriel Arias has an extra-base hit in 8 of his last 9 games going back to last Thursday. In 31 games since July 19, Arias has slashed .300/.394/.527 with 11 doubles, 1 triple, 4 homers, and 17 RBIs. (In 83 games prior, Arias was at .215/.273/.275 with 1 triple and 1 homer.) Arias had a 21-game on-base streak from July 19-Aug. 12.

RUIZ RIGHTING SHIP: Entering Aug. 12, Esteury Ruiz's OBP had fallen to .312, the lowest it had been since April 28. But Ruiz just had a 9-game on-base streak end Friday. During the 9-game stretch he went 9-for-29 (.310) with a double, triple, homer, 3 RBIs, and 4 stolen bases. Ruiz ranks 4th in the MWL in stolen bags for the year (41). He has the most stolen bases for a TinCap since Mallex Smith swiped 46 in the first half of 2014.

WASH ON ROAD: Jalen Washington hit another home run on Friday giving him a home run in back-to-back days for the 2nd time this season. The last time Jalen hit a homer in back-to-back days was when the TinCaps were in Lake County on June 28 & 29. He has hit 7 of his 8 home runs on the road this season. Washington is slashing .216/.297/.295 in 44 home games, while he's at .265/.387/.464 in 47 on the road.

IN CONTROL: TinCaps pitchers have the lowest BB/9 ratio in the league (2.9) and also the best K/BB ratio (3.17).

WALKING WOUNDED: 8 TinCaps are on the Disabled List... LHP MacKenzie Gore (fingernail issue), LHP Osvaldo Hernandez (left shoulder inflammation), RHP Jose Quezada (right elbow soreness), C Luis Campusano (concussion), C Juan Fernandez (right hamate fracture), INF Justin Lopez (broken left thumb), OF Tirso Ornelas (right hand bone bruise), and OF Robbie Podorsky (back spasms).

EASTERN DIVISION SECOND HALF PLAYOFF RACE:

Team Record Games Back of Top Seed GB of Wild Card

Great Lakes 31-30 - -

West Michigan 29-31 1.0 -

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Fort Wayne 27-32 3.0 1.5

South Bend 27-33 3.5 2.0

Lake County 25-35 5.5 4.0

Dayton 24-37 7.0 5.5

Bowling Green (division winner) and Lansing (wild card) clinched playoff spots in the first half. They'll play each other in a best-of-3 series in the first round of the playoffs. The top seed in the second half and the second half wild card winner will face each other in the other opening round Eastern Division matchup. The wild card team will host Game 1, with the higher seed hosting Game 2, and if necessary Game 3.

Check out the Fort Wayne TinCaps Statistics



Midwest League Stories from August 25, 2018


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