Indianapolis and Toledo play game three of their four-game set tonight at Victory Field. The Indians swept their second doubleheader over the last four days last night.
Location: Victory Field
First Pitch: 7:05 p.m. ET
Games #41/Home #25: Indianapolis Indians (22-18) vs. Toledo Mud Hens (20-20)
Probables: RHP Tyler Eppler (3-2, 2.90) vs. RHP Buck Farmer (1-2, 3.51)
Radio: Fox Sports 97.5 and AM 1260
TV: MiLB TV and Comcast channel 90
PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS
Indianapolis Indians
Toledo Mud Hens
- Matt den Dekker LF
- JaCoby Jones CF
- Efren Navarro 1B
- Bryan Holaday C
- Jason Krizan RF
- Omar Infante 2B
- Logan Watkins DH
- Argenis Diaz 3B
- Brendan Ryan SS
TRIBE NOTES
GRAB A COUPLE SIXERS: With Indy’s doubleheader sweep yesterday, the Tribe have garnered their second six-game winning streak of the season (also: May 6-11). The last time an Indianapolis club had two or more six-game plus winning streaks in a single season was in 2012. That season, the Indians rattled off a seven-game winning streak from June 17-23, an eight-game winning streak from June 27-July 4 and a six-game winning streak from August 20-25. Indianapolis finished with a league-best 89-55 record that year before being bounced 3 games to 1 in the IL Governors’ Cup Semifinals by Charlotte.
COME WHAT MAY: The Indians are 15-3 in the month of May with 11 games remaining before the calendar flips to June. In 2016, the Indians had two months where they won 15-plus games (May: 15-14; June: 17-13). If the Indians can win at least five of their last 11 games, the Tribe will reach the 20-win mark in a single month for the seventh time in franchise history. The last time an Indy club won 20 or more games in a single month came in April 2013 when they went 20-7.
McKINNEY IN A PINCH: Playing their second doubleheader in the last four days, the Indians needed a spot starter for Game 2 last night, and it was right-hander Brett McKinney who made his first professional start in that game. Over four impressive innings, McKinney allowed just one hit — a two-out solo homer by Efren Navarro in the first inning. Following the blast, he retired the final 10 batters he faced before handing over to A.J. Schugel who eventually earned the win with two shutout frames in relief.
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE CLIMB: The Indians are four above .500 for the first time this season after last night’s doubleheader sweep. The Tribe last sat four games above .500 on July 15, 2016, after they defeated Louisville, 4-0, to move to 49-45. Last year, the Indians peaked at eight games above .500 when they were 39-31 on June 20.
CLAY RACKING UP THE K’S: Tribe starter Clay Holmes piled up another seven punchouts in Game 1 last night, giving him 7-plus strikeouts in five of his last six starts, the first time he’s done so in his career. Over his last six starts, he’s racked up 40 total strikeouts, the most in a six-start stretch for him in his entire career. His previous high for whiffs during a six-start span was 34 from June 16-July 15, 2016 with Double-A Altoona. He had a pair of nine-strikeout performances during that run.