Osprey Preview: Game #73
Who: Great Falls Voyagers (32–40, 17–17) @ Missoula Osprey (36–36, 17–17)
Where: Ogen Park at Allegiance Field — Missoula, MT
When: 7:05 P.M. (MT) first pitch
How To Listen: ESPN 102.9 FM | MiLB First Pitch App| MiLB.com
THE MATCHUP
The Osprey and Voyagers open a four-game series on Wednesday that will be spit between their two ballpwarks. The first two games will be held in Missoula, where the Osprey have won 5 of 6 games against the Voyagers in 2017, whereas the final two games will be held in Great Falls, where the Osprey have split 6 games with the Voyagers. From July 5 to the current date, the Osprey have won 6 of the last 7 meetings between the two teams.
LAST NIGHT:
On night removed from a bizarre slugfest that was largely non-competitive, the Osprey and Brewers engaged in a well-played conclusion to their season series on Tuesday night. Entering the bottom ofthe 5th with no score, Helena struck for the first two runs of the game on a double by outfielder Jose Gomez.
The two runs proved to be the only runs Osprey starter Cesilio Pimentel needed in support. The lefty turned in his first quality start of the season, striking out four and allowing just two runs on six hits spread across six innings.
In the seventh, catcher Gavin Stupienski pulled the Osprey into the scorign column with the first of his two RBI doubles on the night. Francis Martinez and Eduardo Diaz added run scoring singles to hand the Osprey their first lead of the series at 3–2. The next inning, three more runs from the Osprey opened up four-run lead that the bullpen sustained until the end.
- Gavin Stupienski went 3-for-4 with 2 doubles and a season-high-tying 3 RBI;
- Francis Martinez was 2-for-4 with 2 RBI.
TONIGHT
The Osprey open a brief two-game series with the Great Falls Voyagers at Ogren Park at Allegiance Field on Wednesdya night, beginning a stretch of four consecutive games against the Voyagers to conclude the 2017 regular season. With Great Falls still thoroughly in the playoff hunt, Wendesday’s game is of paramount importance to the Voyagers as they seek to bouy their postseason hopes.
Great Falls will send left-hander Parker Rigler, a 22-year-old left-hander, who has gone 5–3 with a 5.57 ERA in 51.2 innings this year. Among the first questions to be asked about Rigler is how will he perform in Missoula?
Great Falls collectively has limped to a 1–5 record against the Osprey at OPAF and Rigler has struggled away from Centene Stadium in general this year, going 2–3 with a 6.82 ERA in 31.2 innings on the road compared to 3–0 with a 3.60 ERA in 20.0 innings at home. Rigler has faced the Osprey three times, going 1–1 with 7 ER allowed in 9.0 innings of work, including 3 home runs.
Toeing the rubber for Missoula will be 25-year-old lefty Brady Muller. Over his last five outings, Muller is 4–1 with a 2.73 ERA, spanning 29.2 innings on the bump. During that same window, Muller has struck out 31, while allowing 6 walks and 5 home runs.
Muller has pitched twice against Great Falls, dominating on each occasion. With both starts at home, Muller has gone 2–0 with a 1.84 ERA and a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 13:3 in 14.2 IP.
- His 68 strikeouts ar #1 in the PBL.
- Tied for PBL lead in both wins and losses (6 & 7 respectively).
- 4th in innings piched with 74.1
LINEUP
- Gabriel Maciel — LF
- Eduardo Diaz — CF
- Keshawn Lynch — SS
- Andy Yerzy — DH
- Juan Araujo — RF
- Dominic Miroglio — C
- Francis Martinez — 1B
- Jose Caballero — 2B
- Joel Novas — 3B
- P — Brady Muller
