Games 115–120: Peoria Chiefs vs. West Michigan Whitecaps — Series Preview
The Chiefs return home for their penultimate home series of 2023 as the West Michigan Whitecaps visit Dozer Park for the first time this year.
Peoria split its 12-game road trip and enter play this week in a playoff spot by four games. The Chiefs are 27–21 in the second half and are 60–54 overall. West Michigan owns a playoff spot as of today. The Whitecaps are in first place in the second half standings in the east. They are 28–19 in the latter half and 60–52 overall.
Pitching Probables
Tuesday: RHP Wilkel Hernandez vs. RHP Inohan Paniagua — 6:35 p.m.
Wednesday: RHP Garrett Burhenn vs. RHP Max Rajcic — 6:35 p.m.
Thursday: RHP Jackson Jobe vs. RHP Ian Bedell — 6:35 p.m.
Friday: RHP Dylan Smith vs. RHP Trent Baker — 6:35 p.m.
Saturday: RHP Troy Melton vs. RHP Zane Mills — 6:35 p.m.
Sunday TBA vs. RHP Inohan Paniagua — 1:05 p.m.
Jimmy Crooks is third in the Midwest League in hitting this month. Crooks is batting .361 in August and hit his team-leading 10th home run of the year on Friday.
Perhaps the most notable performance from the road trip was Chris Rotondo’s seven RBI performance on Sunday. The outfielder finished the series in Lake County 6-for-12 with a home run and eight RBI.
On the other side, Eliezer Alfonzo is batting .341 this month. The catcher enters play this week on a seven-game hitting streak in which he is 10-for-24. Austin Murr has driven in a run in four straight as West Michigan has won four of its last five and 16 of its last 20 games.
Thursday’s pitching matchup has some hype around it as Ian Bedell will start opposite the Tigers top pitching prospect Jackson Jobe.
