Game Preview: June 28 vs. Oklahoma City
Memphis Redbirds (46–31) vs. Oklahoma City Dodgers (44–32)
Wednesday, June 28 • 7:05 p.m. (CT) • AutoZone Park (10,000) • Memphis, Tennessee
Broadcast Information: MiLB.tv | TuneIn Radio | Gameday Play-By-Play
Probable Pitchers: Memphis RHP Luke Weaver (6–1, 2.16) vs Oklahoma City RHP Trevor Oaks (4–2, 3.69)
Lineups:
ABOUT THE LAST ONE: The Memphis offense was held in check for a second straight night, falling to Oklahoma City 3–2. John Gant gave up three runs on five hits in eight frames, tying the season-long outing for a Redbird starter.
Nick Martini and Adolis Garcia each collected a pair of hits while Carson Kelly and Breyvic Valera drove in the runs.
A full recap is available here.
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Pregame Listening: Voice of the Redbirds, Steve Selby, caught up with manager Stubby Clapp earlier this week. You can hear the entire conversation below:
Today’s Game Notes: Click here for full set of notes
TODAY’S GAME: Memphis continues its eight-game homestand with game three of a four-game series against the Oklahoma City Dodgers. The Redbirds completed a 5–3 road trip and sit nine games up in the American Southern division. Oklahoma City has won six straight and possesses the fourth-best record in the league. Today’s game will be broadcast live on Sports56/87.7 FM and internet webcast at MemphisRedbirds.com, with Steve Selby on the call.
ON THE HILL: Memphis hands the ball to All-Star righthander Luke Weaver in his 11th start of the year. Weaver is coming off back-to-back truncated outings, one due to injury and another due to high pitch count. He last pitched on Friday, shutting out Omaha over 3.2 innings and limiting the Storm Chasers to a hit and two walks while striking out three. Weaver does not have enough innings to qualify for the league lead, but would pace the PCL in ERA and WHIP.
Trevor Oaks makes his 14th start (15th appearance) of the season and third against the Redbirds. In his two previous outings against Memphis, Oaks yielded two earned runs on nine hits with 12 strikeouts in 10.0 innings. He did not factor in either decision. Oaks enters today with the lowest walk rate among qualifying starting pitchers in the league (14 BB/74.0 IP, 1.70 BB/9). He is also fifth in the league in ERA and tied for the fourth fewest baserunners allowed per 9 IP.
SCHEDULE WITH OKLAHOMA CITY: The Redbirds and Dodgers meet for their third series of the season, and second and final at AutoZone Park. Memphis is just 3–6 against Oklahoma City this year, the only team that the ‘Birds do not have at least a .500 winning percentage against. The two teams met seven times over 11 days in April, and after this series, will not meet again until July 17–20.
THIS DATE IN REDBIRDS HISTORY (June 28, 2011): Maikel Cleto made his Redbirds debut and allowed a home run to Omaha’s Mike Aviles on the second pitch of the game. Cleto recovered to throw 7.1 innings, surrendering four hits and striking out 9 in the Redbirds’ 3–1 win. Cleto’s fastball was clocked at 100 mph as late as the 7th inning.
FOR THE RECORD:
- The Redbirds are one game behind the best record through 77 games in franchise history (47–30, 2000)
- A win today would be the second-earliest 47th win by games in franchise history (77, 2000)
- Memphis is one of 9 teams in MiLB with 46+ wins
STREAK RESISTANT: Memphis enters tonight having dropped three straight games for the first time since April 24–27. This is just the third streak of three-plus losses in a row this season for the Redbirds, with the season-long being a four-game winless streak from April 13–16. All three losing streaks have involved multiple setbacks against OKC.
ALL-STAR SELECTIONS: The PCL announced today that Carson Kelly, Ryan Sherriff, and Luke Weaver have been selected to represent the Redbirds in the Triple-A All-Star Game.
For Kelly, it his third All-Star appearance, joining Peoria (Midwest League, ’14) and Springfield (‘16). Sherriff pitched the Triple-A All-Star Game a year ago while Weaver was named a mid-season All-Star for the first time in his career.
