Photo courtesy Christine Baker / PennLive

Schedule

Game 1: Wednesday 6:35 @ Jerry Uht Park
A.J. Cole (4-2, 2.18) vs. RH Drew VerHagen (2-5, 3.00)

Game 2: Thursday 6:35 @ Jerry Uht Park
Taylor Hill (2-7, 2.71) vs. RH Warwick Saupold (7-6, 3.28)

Game 3: Friday 7:00 @ Metro Bank Park
LH Matt Crouse (9-10, 4.47) vs. Nathan Karns (10-6, 3.26)

Game 4: Saturday 7:00 @ Metro Bank Park (if necessary)
TBA vs. TBA

Game 5: Sunday 2:00 @ Metro Bank Park (if necessary)
TBA vs. TBA

Three Things to Keep an Eye On

• If Erie drops the opening game of the series, a huge burden will fall to starters Warwick Saupold and Matt Crouse in the next two contests. Both pitchers have not done well against the Senators this season. In two starts, Saupold has an ERA of 7.11 and Harrisburg batted .346 against the Australian righthander. Crouse has fared a little better, but not by much to the tune of a 5.67 ERA and .291 batting average in four starts against the Senators. But Harrisburg’s starters in those games, Taylor Hill and Nate Karns, have been excellent in six starts against the SeaWolves as they combined for a 2.57 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP in 35 innings.

• Behind the arm of James McCann, Erie held opponents to the least number of stolen bases (73) and registered the Eastern League’s best percentage of caught stealing (37%). Part of the Senators’ recent offensive revitalization has been the addition of speed to the top of the lineup. Billy Burns and a healthy, aggressive Steven Souza will put McCann to the test. In the opposing dugout, the roles are reversed as stellar defensive catcher Sandy Leon was recalled by Washington when the rosters expanded. This leaves the catching duties to Brian Jeroloman and Jeff Howell who have only caught a combined 25% of would-be base stealers on the season. The story on the basepaths may well be the story of the series.

• Erie has owned Harrisburg relievers Neil Holland, Richie Mirowski, and Matt Grace this season. The SeaWolves are batting .390 against the trio and have scored 15 runs in only 12.1 innings over nine appearances. With closer Aaron Barrett’s status still up in the air, the Senators need to get quality outings from everyone in the bullpen and these three need to be the first to reverse the trend versus Erie.

Filibustering the Senators (stats against Harrisburg this season)

Wade Gaynor .341/.383/.636, 6 R, 8 RBI, 4 2B, 3 HR
James McCann .297/.350/.514, 5 R, 9 RBI, 2 2B, 2 HR
Daniel Fields .333/.368/.472, 4 R, 4 RBI, 1 2B, 2 3B
Eugenio Suarez .288/.333/.441, 7 R, 2 RBI, 6 2B, 1 HR

Drew VerHagen (1-0, 0,00 ERA) 8 IP, 0.38 WHIP, .120 AVG, 2 K
Melvin Mercedes (0-0 2 Sv, 0.00 ERA) 4.0 IP, 0.75 WHIP, .000 AVG, 2 K
Ramon Garcia (1-0, 1.29 ERA) 7 IP, 0.86 WHIP, .200 AVG, 4 K
Will Clinard (0-0 1 Sv, 0.00 ERA) 2.2 IP, 0.75 WHIP, .111 AVG, 2 K

Capsizing the SeaWolves (stats against Erie this season)

Steven Souza .294/.385/.529, 4 R, 4 RBI, 2 2B, 2 HR
Jason Martinson .346/.414/.462, 3 R, 3 RBI, 1 HR
Sean Nicol .270/.372/.432, 10 R, 8 RBI, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR
Ricky Hague .265/.321/.449, 7 R, 10 RBI, 3 HR

Robbie Ray (1-0, 1.38 ERA) 13 IP, 1.00 WHIP, .170 AVG, 17 K
Tyler Herron (2-0, 1.86 ERA) 9.2 IP, 1.24 WHIP, .222 AVG, 13 K
Matt Swynenberg (0-0, 1.00 ERA) 10 IP, 1.67 WHIP, .286 AVG, 7 K
Pat McCoy (0-0, 0.00 ERA) 4.2 IP, 0.86 WHIP, .222 AVG, 3 K