Southern League on Final Lap of Race

The last series of the regular season and Montgomery has everything to play for. In baseball, there is nothing more to ask for than meaningful games going into the last weekend of the year.

The Biscuits return from Mobile owning the top spot in the North Division as the calendar turns to September.

Autumn approaches but Bradys Boys haven't finished with the summer yet, hoping to push the sun back up in the sky for a couple more weeks of baseball. After last years early exit from the playoffs, the squad feels it has unfinished business.

MAGIC NUMBERS GAME

Super-utility man Pat Blair knows the Biscuits Magic Number!

GRAPE JELLY SERIES TO CLOSE SEASON

Smokies

The Smokies return to Riverwalk, eliminated from playoff contention and just finishing out the string. The only thing the BabyBears have to play for is to act as spoiler, trying to be a factor in the postseason and putting the best lineup on the field that they can.

That said, the Cubs affiliate has fallen off from where it was just a few seasons ago. This Smokies team has played better of late, winning eight of their last ten contests, but even with the hot streak are still six games under .500 in the second half.

Ian Happ

So far this year the Biscuits have handled the Smokies, winning 14 and losing just six in the Grape Jelly Series.

The Smokies prospect ratio is a very low 51, top prospect Ian Happ accounts for more than half of the total. Chesney Young has played his way onto prospect lists, particularly over the last month, but has cooled in the last week. Brad Marky hit the disabled list recently, sapping the team of another noted prospect.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

 

Look at the league scoreboard for the Jackson v Chattanooga score! Any combination of five Jackson losses or Biscuit wins and Montgomery clinches the second half title.


The Smokies will be playing for pride and not glory, but it could still be a tough series for the Biscuits, who have a flair for making things dramatic late. With so much riding on the final five games, look for the Biscuits to be all business.

Gotta goes all out

Goetzman steals second base

Biscuit baserunners will be looking for a chance to swipe a bag, the team is second in the SL in thefts. Montgomery is also second in getting caught, so be careful lads!

Look for a good seat on Saturday, tickets should be available due to the local fascination with amateur football.

Smokies rhp Tseng

Smokies pitchers have looked at more of their offerings leaving the yard than any other club, giving up 96 long balls so far this year. Consequently, their 4.02 team ERA is higher than any other except the Barons.

Look for the Biscuits to go for extra bases. Montgomery is tops in doubles, second in Hrs and has relied on scoring via doubles and homers late in games.

Justin O'Conner

Smokies outfielder Kelly Dugan has been looking fastball and turning on them. With five homers in the last month Dugan is among the hottest hitters in the league right now.

Justin O'Conner will be looking to get going after missing most of the season with a bad back. He has struggled in his first week but could heat up at any moment.

Smokies leadoff hitter Chesney Young is looking for hits, he trails Zach Granite by .003 for the batting title. Smokies catcher Victor Caratini is third.

Look for Miss Gravy, making what could be her last appearances at the ballpark, on Friday and Saturday. You can cross-check the scouting report for yourself!

Be sure to look for the sunscreen before getting to the park on Monday, a noontime start means a last chance for a sunburn. Also, if it doesn't have playoff implications, we could see the game played quickly, how about an hour and twenty minutes?

THURSDAY
Last Thursty Thirsday of the regular season!
Chris Kirsch v Hedges

FRIDAY
Fan Appreciation Night
Last Mega Fireworks of the season!
Hunter Wood v Tseng

SATURDAY
Football Night
Chase Whitley v Skulina

SUNDAY
Kids Day Catch and Run Bases
Taylor Guerrieri v Wagner

MONDAY
Nooner, last game of the regular season!
TBA v TBA



TEAM NOTES
There is no telling what the MLB September roster expansion will do to the Biscuits roster.

Kean Wong was removed for a pinch runner early in Wednesdays game, no word yet on if the move was due to injury or just precautionary.

Tommy Coyle

Tommy Coyle was activated and started at second base. If Kean Wong misses any time, Coyle or Juniel Querecuto would likely play in his place.

Chih-Wei Hu and Brent Honeywell have made their last starts of the season, though they might be available out of the bullpen in the final series. If neither pitcher appears vs TN, it would stand to reason that they would be available for the first two games of the playoffs, should Montgomery make the postseason.

Jake DePew

Granden Goetzman

Outfielder Granden Goetzman is likely happy to flip the calendar after batting just .223 in August, his lowest average of any month this season.

Not so happy about it is  catcher Jake DePew. After struggling to meet the Mendoza line most of the summer in a backup role, Jake has pulled his season average over the mark, by hitting .237 in full time play this month.