The Baysox host the Akron Aeros for a three game series from Tuesday, June 17 to Thursday, June 19. The Eastern League Southern Division leading Baysox are just a game ahead of the Aeros as the series opens.
Tuesday, June 17 – 7:05 p.m. Akron Aeros RHP Kevin Dixon (PERA 4.73) vs. RHP Chorye Spoone (4.69)
Wednesday, June 18 – 7:05 p.m. Akron Aeros LHP Scott Lewis (0.93) vs. RHP Chris Tillman (2.79)
Thursday, June 19 – 7:05 p.m. Akron Aeros LHP Chuck Lofgren (6.21) vs. RHP Jason Berken (4.29)
The Aeros rotation is a little less formidable following the June 6 promotion of left-hander David Huff to Triple-A Buffalo.
Tuesday’s starter Kevin Dixon has had an up-and-down season and is struggling on the road where opposing hitters have a .910 OPS against him in 62 at bats (.694 OPS against in 201 at bats at home).
Wednesday’s starter Scott Lewis returned June 6 from a two-month stint on the disable list with a strained lat. Lewis, who is on Cleveland’s 40-man roster, is playing his second season in the Eastern League and could be a late-season call up for the Indians.
Thursday’s likely starter Chuck Lofgren is the organization’s number two prospect, but is not playing up to expectations. Lofgren is walking 6.5 batters per nine innings and is having an especially hard time away from home where hitters have a .949 OPS against him in 90 at bats (.722 OPS against in 130 at bats at home).
Despite the seasons that Reading’s Lou Marson and Harrisburg’s Luke Montz are having, my Akron’s Chris Gimenez got my vote to play catcher at the Eastern League All-Star Game. Gimenez’s 1.033 OPS and Bondsian .498 OBP lead the EL. However, he’s thrown out only five of 31 base-stealers. (Maybe it’s not too late to change my vote.)
I was much more confident in my all-star vote for Akron third baseman Wes Hodges. In his second year out of Georgia Tech, Hodges has a .866 OPS in 242 at bats. He is particularly brutal against right-handers with a .932 OPS in 171 at bats.
