First place, playoff positioning at stake as SeaWolves welcome Baysox for 6 games
The Erie SeaWolves are back home after winning four of six games in Harrisburg including 5-3 in the final game on Sunday. The 'Wolves won the final three games against the Senators but weren't able to create any separation from Bowie, and now the Baysox come to UPMC Park in the most important series of the season for both teams.
The teams are tied for first place in the Southwest Division at 33-18, while Akron is four games back in third place and Altoona is in fourth place 6½ games back.
While Erie and Bowie battle for first place, Akron travels to Altoona in what could be an elimination series in the playoff race. All four teams could have a say in which team meets Richmond in the division series starting Sept. 20. The SeaWolves host Altoona next week before ending the regular season in Richmond, while Bowie hosts Richmond next week and ends the season at Akron. Akron is at Harrisburg next week and Altoona ends the season at home against Reading.
Keep these things in mind during the Bowie-Erie series:
Pitching showdown
The series starts Tuesday with four straight games at 6:05 p.m. before a 4:05 p.m. start Saturday and a 1:35 p.m. Sunday game.
On Tuesday, Sawyer Gipson-Long (2-1, 3.54), who came to the Detroit organization for Michael Fulmer, is scheduled to start for Erie against Brenan Hanifee (2-1, 4.68).
The first prospect showdown is Wednesday when Brant Hurter, the No. 23 prospect for the Tigers, is scheduled to take the mound for Erie against Cade Povich (1-0, 6.30), the No. 15 prospect for the Orioles. Hurter will make his second Double-A start after allowing seven runs in three innings last week. Povich will make his third Double-A start. Each has climbed the minor league ladder quickly this season.
Reese Olson (6-6, 4.41), the No. 9 prospect for the Tigers, is Thursday's scheduled starter for the SeaWolves against Justin Armbruester (4-0, 3.51). Ty Madden, the No. 4 prospect for Detroit, is scheduled for Friday. Madden (2-0, 2.57) will take on Garrett Stallings (5-10, 6.55) of Bowie.
The other big prospect showdown is scheduled for Saturday afternoon. Chayce McDermott (0-1, 10.38), the No. 14 prospect for the Orioles, will make his fourth Double-A start against Wilmer Flores (5-2, 2.51), the No. 3 prospect for the Tigers. Chance Kirby (8-3, 2.52) is the scheduled starter for Erie on Sunday. Bowie's Sunday starter had not been announced by Monday.
More: Detroit Tigers' top 2022 pick Jace Jung adjusting to High-A: 'The guy can hit'
Hitters to watch
Several SeaWolves have had success against the Baysox this season. Andrew Navigato, who hit a big home run Sunday, is batting .400 in seven games against Bowie, while Dane Myers is hitting .346 with four homers in six games. Gage Workman is hitting .325 with 10 runs scored in 11 games against Bowie and Dillon Dingler, the No. 10 prospect for the Tigers, is hitting .321 with five RBIs in eight games.
Bowie hasn't had as much success against the SeaWolves as Erie leads the season series 8-4. Infielder Adam Hall is hitting .333 in nine games against Erie while outfielder Hudson Haskin is hitting .293 with two home runs in 11 games. Other Baysox to watch include third baseman Cody Mayo, the No. 7 prospect for Baltimore, and second baseman Connor Norby, the No. 12 prospect.
More: Debating a September Spencer Torkelson return to Detroit Tigers: 'He's in a rut in 2022'
Record watch
According to research by the Erie Times-News, there are two franchise records that could fall over the next 12 games. Erie has 158 home runs, which is the second-most in franchise history behind 167 in 2002. Quincy Nieporte leads Erie 28 homers followed by Carpenter and Myers with 22 apiece. Parker Meadows has 15 home runs, while Dingler and Navigato each have 14 and Workman has 11.
The season strikeouts record of 153, set by Seth Etherton in 1999, also is in jeopardy. Olson has 144 strikeouts, which is fourth for one season. Olson has two scheduled starts over the next 12 games to potentially pass Tim Kalita (147), Matt Manning (148) and catch Etherton.
Contact Tom Reisenweber at treisenweber@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNreisenweber.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie SeaWolves host Bowie Baysox in high-stakes Eastern League series
