Dogs (58-39, 3rd North, 4.0 GB) vs. Saints (62-35, 1st North)
Probables:
Saturday, 8/31: RHP Carlos Zambrano (3-1, 5.14 ERA) vs RHP Eddie Medina (10-2, 3.11 ERA)
Sunday, 9/1: LHP Austin Wright (7-7, 4.15 ERA) vs. LHP Jordan Jess (6-1, 4.02 ERA)
Monday, 9/2: TBA vs. TBA
LISTEN: The Chicago Dogs Baseball Network – bit.ly/chidogstv
SERIES NOTES: Series Notes Aug 31-Sept 2 STP
ROSEMONT, Ill. — The Chicago Dogs controlled what it could and swept the Milwaukee Milkmen at home earlier this week. Nonetheless, they were eliminated from playoff contention on Friday with St. Paul’s 4-3 win over Fargo-Moorhead.
The starting rotation for Chicago (58-39, 3rd North) continued to dazzle, getting spectacular starts from Luke Westphal, D.J. Snelten and Jake Dahlberg. Victor Roache continued his tear at the plate, going 7-for-13 with 6 RBI and hitting his 24th home run of the year.
The Dogs wrap up the 2019 season at home against the Saints. Game one on Saturday will start at 7:05 PM, game two will start at 6:05 PM on Sunday and Monday’s finale will kick off at 1:05 PM.
RHP Carlos Zambrano will start the series for Chicago, making his fifth and final start of the 2019 campaign. He made his most recent start against St. Paul, allowing just one earned run and one walk in five innings of work.
LHP Austin Wright gets the ball on Sunday for game two against the Saints. Wright’s 125 strikeouts in 97.2 innings rank second in the league, four behind the top spot. His last time out against the Saints, he allowed three earned runs in 5.1 innings, as the Dogs rolled to an 11-9 win.
Monday’s starter will be announced shortly.
SCOUTING THE SAINTS
The St. Paul Saints (62-35, 1st North) have enjoyed a fantastic run of success as of late, winning 15 of their last 17 games and sweeping the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks to take sole possession of first place in the North for the first time since mid-July. The Saints boast a 3.99 staff ERA, featuring a body of pitchers that has allowed the third-fewest runs of any team at 433. St. Paul’s pitchers also have hurled seven shutouts on the season, second only to Sioux City’s eight. The Saints have been helped out by a defense that ranks third in fielding percentage, only committing 68 errors in 2019.
Offensively, Dogs pitchers will be dealing with a formidable foe. The Saints have clubbed a league-second 104 HR, and rank in the top four in most offensive categories. Dan Motl’s .324 average is the fifth-highest in the league, and infielders Josh Allen and Brady Shoemaker have combined for 34 HR.
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