Fort Wayne TinCaps (7-14) vs. South Bend Cubs (13-8)
Game 1: RHP Austin Smith (6.23) vs. LHP Bryan Hudson (4.15)
Game 2: LHP Will Headean (3.18) vs. RHP Dylan Cease (1.89)
Saturday, April 29, 2017— Parkview Field — First Pitch 1:05 p.m. — Games 22 and 23
LAST NIGHT: The TinCaps and Cubs were rained out.
TATIS TURNING IT AROUND: Fernando Tatis Jr. is on a 10-game on-base streak. During the stretch, he’ss slashing .300/.364/.475. (In the 18-year-old’s first 10 games, his line was .146/.222/.220.)
LET’S PLAY TWO: According to the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR), Ernie Banks was first attributed with this famous saying in July 1969. The Cubs were to play a game in 100-degree heat and Banks, looking to inspire his teammates, uttered the phrase. Sportswriter Jimmy Enright reported it and credited it to Banks.
RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY: Over a stretch of 216 games from June 1, 2012-May 29, 2015, Parkview Field never experienced a rainout. In 2015, however, the TinCaps had 3 home games washed out and 2 were rained out last season.
DEFENSE: Although the TinCaps committed 2 untimely errors Thursday night, their .979 fielding percentage is 2nd best in the MWL. (Only Peoria is better at .982.) Individually, Marcus Greene Jr. has thrown out 9 of 20 attempted base stealers — 3rd most in the MWL.
GREENE GETS GOING: Marcus Greene Jr. is on a 6-game hitting streak and 10-game on-base streak. His .306 batting average currently leads the team. His success has come after a tepid start, going 3-for-15 to begin the year. Since then, he’s 15-for-34 (.353) over the last 10 games. He has 4 doubles, a home run, and 10 RBIs.
ZUNICA’S POWER & PATIENCE: Brad Zunica has 8 hits this year—3 doubles, 3 home runs, and just 2 singles (1 of which was off the center-field fence and he was out at second base trying to make it a double). So while his AVG is only .211, his on-base percentage is .423, as he’s drawn 14 walks in 13 games. Zunica has drawn a walk in 26% of his plate appearances (2nd best in the MWL among guys with 50+ PAs). He’s currently on a 10-game on-base streak.
LEAGUE LEADERS: Jack Suwinski is tied for 2nd in the MWL in walks drawn (15)… Brad Zunica is tied for 5th in walks (14)… Eguy Rosario is tied for 7th in doubles (6)… Fernando Tatis Jr. is 6th in stolen bases (6)… Eguy Rosario also is tied for 7th in stolen bases (5)… Logan Allen has the 4th best SO/9IP ratio (12.5) and the 4th best batting average against (.159) among pitchers.
ON THE OTHER SIDE: South Bend has the following Top 30 Cubs prospects (per MLB.com)… RHP Dylan Cease (No. 3)… OF D.J. Wilson (No. 9)… LHP Jose Paulino (No. 14)… SS Isaac Paredes (No. 18)… LHP Bryan Hudson (No. 24)… Baseball America ranks Chicago’s farm system as 16th most talented in baseball.
