Indianapolis opens a six-game homestand tonight against Lehigh Valley in a battle of first-place teams. The Indians own a five-game lead in the IL West, while the IronPigs have a 5.5-game lead in the IL North.
Location: Victory Field
First Pitch: 7:05 p.m. ET
Game #50/Home #27: Indianapolis Indians (27-22) vs. Lehigh Valley IronPigs (35-15)
Probables: RHP Tyler Eppler (3-2, 2.70) vs. RHP Jake Thompson (2-4, 5.68)
Radio: Fox Sports 97.5 and AM 1260
TV: MiLB TV and Comcast channel 90
PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS
Indianapolis Indians
Lehigh Valley IronPigs
- Cameron Perkins CF
- J.P. Crawford SS
- Jorge Alfaro C
- Dylan Cozens RF
- Rhys Hoskins 1B
- Nick Williams LF
- Taylor Featherston 3B
- Pedro Florimon 2B
- Jake Thompson P
TRIBE NOTES
NOT TO BE GREEDY: The Indians have posted a 20-7 record in the month of May, their first 20-plus win month since April 2013 when they began the season 20-7. A win tonight would give the Tribe their first 21-win month since Aug. 1998, when they went 21-7. Indy also posted a 21-9 record in the month of June that season. If the Indians win tonight and tomorrow, they’ll match June 1996’s win total of 22 games. Two victories by the Tribe would give them the best winning percentage in a single month (22-7, .759) in the Victory Field era.
SOMETHING ABOUT NO. 29: Elias Diaz, who wears No. 29, homered yesterday (May 29) to give Indy a 2-0 advantage in the fourth inning at Frontier Field. The home run was his second of the season, with the other coming on April 29 at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He was recalled today by Pittsburgh in place of C Chris Stewart who was placed on the 10-day DL with a left hamstring strain.
FLIP FLOP: Last Thursday, Clay Holmes hurled six innings at Lehigh Valley before handing over to Tyler Eppler who worked a scoreless seventh. Tonight, the 24-year-old right-handers will change roles — Eppler will start and Holmes is expected to enter in relief. Both pitchers have been primary assets in Indy’s 2017 rotation.
IF ONLY: Three of Indy’s seven losses in the month of May have come with the Tribe leading after six full innings of play. Both of the Tribe’s losses at Rochester came late — one when leading after seven frames and the other when leading through eight full innings.
HONEY, I’M HOME: Jason Rogers has drastic home/road splits this season, batting .337 (29-for-86) with three doubles, four home runs and 15 RBI in 24 games at Victory Field. In 20 road affairs, he’s hitting just .210 (17-for-81) with two doubles, two home runs and 10 RBI.