Game Preview: 8-23 v. Mobile

The Tennessee Smokies (36-23, 70-58) return home for their final home series of the regular season to take on the Mobile BayBears (33-27, 72-57). First pitch is scheduled for 7:15 PM from Smokies Park.

WHAT’S AT STAKE: The Smokies lost last night but still took a number in the magic number column.  Their magic number to clinch a playoff spot is at three and to win the division for the second half is at four.

TONIGHT’S STARTERS:

Mobile: Mark Serrano (4-2, 3.75): This will be just Serrano’s fourth start of the season and first since July 31 against Pensacola.  He is 2-0 with a 2.55 ERA in his three starts for the BayBears while possessing a 2-2 mark with a 4.91 ERA from the bullpen.  This will be his first appearance against the Smokies this season.

Tennessee: Eduardo Figueroa (1-1, 2.45): Figueroa has pitched his best baseball of the season in his last two starts.  He hasn’t allowed a run in his last 11 innings spanning two starts including his six shutout innings in Birmingham on August 18.  Tonight will be his fifth start in a Smokies uniform.

LAST TIME OUT:

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Justin Greene: Greene has been a consistent force all season for the BayBears.  He leads the Southern League with a .317 batting average and ranks in the top five in steals, on-base percentage, triples, and runs scored.

Ender Inciarte: Inciarte leads the Southern League with 41 stolen bases in 2013.  He also ranks 9th in the league with a .282 batting average and tied for second in hits with 125.

Jonathan Mota: Mota went 0-3 last night which snapped his ten-game hitting streak.  That was his longest hitting streak of the season.

Rubi Silva: After struggling for a ten-game stretch, Rubi Silva is beginning to trend up for Tennessee.  He is 4-for-9 in his last three games.

KEY TO THE GAME: Mobile possesses a lot of speed in their lineup with Ender Inciarte and Justin Greene.  Both rank in the top three in stolen bases in the Southern League so Eduardo Figueroa must keep them off the base paths.

TUNE IN: The broadcast will be available in its entirety on smokiesbaseball.com as well as the Smokies mobile app, beginning at 7:00 ET with the Pilot & Oscar Mayer Pregame Show.