Dogs (17-12, 3rd North) vs. RedHawks (18-14, 4th North)

 

Probables

Friday, 6/21: LHP Luke Westphal (5-0, 0.80 ERA) vs. TBA

Saturday, 6/22: RHP Trevor Simms (1-3, 5.56 ERA) vs. TBA

Sunday, 6/22: LHP Jake Dahlberg (2-1, 3.21 ERA) vs. TBA

 

WATCH: American Association Baseball TV – americanassociationbaseball.tv  

SERIES NOTES: Series Notes June 21-23 FM

 

FARGO, N.D. — The Chicago Dogs conclude its six-game road trip with a weekend series against the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks at Newman Outdoor Field. The Dogs (17-12, 3rd North) dropped two out of three games against the Winnipeg Goldeyes. In its most recent series on June 14-16, the Dogs won two out of three games at Impact Field, including a 5-4 win on Father’s Day. Game times are set for 7:02 PM on Friday, 6:00 PM on Saturday, and 1:00 PM on Sunday.

LHP Luke Westphal will start game one on Friday night at Newman Outdoor Field. In six starts this season Westphal has been nothing short of spectacular, sporting a 5-0 record with a 0.80 ERA and 43 strikeouts, all of which are the best among American Association starters. In his last outing on June 16, the Clintonville, Wisconsin native went 5.0 innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits while striking out seven in Chicago’s 5-4 win over Fargo-Moorhead.

Westphal has been one of the most sensational pitchers in the American Association this season. In six starts, Westphal is 5-0 with a miniscule 0.80 ERA. Among pitchers with at least five starts, Westphal leads the league in ERA, strikeouts (43), and WHIP (0.71), and has allowed the fewest hits (14), fewest runs (3), and the lowest batting average against (.118).

RHP Trevor Simms will get the start for game two on Saturday night. The Tulane grad was shaky in his last start on June 10 vs. Texas, allowing four runs on four hits over 3.1 innings. The lone righty in the Dogs’ rotation, Simms is 1-3 with a 5.55 ERA and 16 strikeouts this season.

Game three will send LHP Jake Dahlberg to the mound. In his last start on June 18 vs. Winnipeg, Dahlberg was effective for the first five innings before running into trouble in the sixth. The UIC grad finished with six runs (five earned) allowed on seven hits with one strikeout over five-plus innings of work. Dahlberg is 2-1 with a 3.21 ERA this season.

SCOUTING THE REDHAWKS

The Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks are currently 18-14 and sit in fourth place in the North division. The RedHawks are coming off of a three-game sweep of the Gary Southshore RailCats, including a rain-shortened 2-1 win on Thursday afternoon. Chris Jacobs (.344) and Brennan Metzger (.302) pace the team in batting average, and Correlle Prime is tied with Jacobs for the team lead in home runs with six. Jim Bennett, who has spent time as pitching coach for the Australian National Team, is in his first season as RedHawks manager.

Fans can tune in to American Association Baseball TV for live streams of this weekend’s games. For more updates, follow @TheChicagoDogs on social media and use the hashtag #TakeABite.