When the International League season concluded, the Columbus Clippers and Indianapolis Indians were defeated in their respective games, leading to a tie atop the West division. Therefore, the two teams were given the status of co-champions. Now, Minor League Baseball will finally learn who is better as they will compete head-to-head for the Governors' Cup.
83-61 Columbus Clippers
(Affiliate of Cleveland Indians)
***IL West Co-Champions
at 83-61 Indianapolis Indians
(Affiliate of Pittsburgh Pirates)
***IL West Co-Champions & Wild Card
Head-To-Head in Regular Season:
Columbus won season series 11-10.
Road to the Championship:
The Indians, by striking first, dominated the first two games of their semifinal versus the RailRiders and outscored them 13-4 during two home victories. However, on the road, opposing starter Kyle Davies shutout Indianapolis' for the first eight innings of Game 3. Unfortunately for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, there are nine innings in baseball rather than eight, and during the ninth their bullpen self-destructed, resulting in four runs to score. Game, sweep, series.
For the Clippers, the road to the Governors' Cup final was not so pleasant. Despite winning the first game quite handedly, ace Toru Murata was hit very hard for four runs in a Game 2 loss, while closer Carlos Marmol blew a save in Game 4 to force the series to five games. Above all, Columbus was able to advance thanks to an amazing Triple-A debut from Mike Clevinger, who fanned 10 batters in 7.2 shutout innings.
Hitters to Watch:
COL-Jesus Aguilar
***25th ranked prospect in Cleveland's Organization
---.267 BA, 19 home runs and 93 RBI. (Triple-A Stats)
IND-Josh Bell
***33rd ranked prospect in MLB
***3rd ranked prospect in Pittsburgh's Organization
---.347 BA, two home runs and 18 RBI. (In 35 Triple-A Games)
Pitchers to Watch:
COL-Toru Murata
---15-4 record with 2.90 ERA, and 101 strikeouts in 164.1 innings pitched. (Season Stats)
IND-Tyler Glasnow
***7th ranked prospect in MLB
***1st ranked prospect in Pittsburgh's Organization
---2-1 record with 2.20 ERA, & 48 strikeouts in 41.0 innings pitched. (In eight Triple-A Starts)
Who's Hot:
COL-Erik Gonzalez
---.476 BA (10-for-21), fives runs, one home run, and four RBI. (Last five games versus Norfolk)
IND-Dan Gamache
---.333 BA (3-for-9), three runs and four RBI. (Last three games versus Scranton/Wilkes-Barre)
Schedule
Game 1-September 15
6:35 PM EST
Indianapolis (Chris Volstad)
at Columbus (Ryan Merritt)
Game 2-September 16
6:35 PM EST
Indianapolis (Wilfredo Boscan)
at Columbus (Toru Murata)
Game 3-September 17
7:05 PM EST
Columbus (Will Roberts)
at Indianapolis (Tyler Glasnow)
Game 4-September 18
7:15 PM EST
Columbus (Jarrett Grube)
at Indianapolis (Chad Kuhl)
Game 5-September 19
7:05 PM EST
Columbus (Mike Clevinger)
at Indianapolis (TBA)
Prediction:
Although Columbus and Indianapolis faced-off in 21 games this season, none will be as important as the next five.
Down the final stretch of the season, the Clippers were clearly the stronger of the two considering they were able to overcome a multi-game lead in the division. Yet, the Indians did not play poorly during the last five plus weeks. As a matter of fact, Dean Treanor's squad won 22 of their last 37 regular season games. Not bad, right? Correct, but what is unfortunate for Indianapolis is that starter Vance Worley was summoned to Pittsburgh today.
Worley was absolutely fantastic in six starts down on the farm as he went 4-1 with a 1.92 ERA (including a playoff start of eight innings and no earned runs in Game 2 versus Scranton/Wilkes-Barre). Without the right-hander in the rotation, the Indians will rely on, fresh from Double-A, Chad Kuhl in Game 4 (if necessary).
Kuhl, who won 11 plus games each of the last two years, is 11-5 with a 2.48 ERA and 101 strikeouts in 25 starts with Altoona. But it must be noted that the 23-year-old is coming off one of the worst outings of his career (seven runs in 1.2 innings) during the Eastern League playoffs.
So who wins? Josh Bell, Tyler Glasnow, and the Indians of course. While the Clippers have good bats in Audy Ciriaco, Michael Choice, Zach Walters, and IL RBI leader Jesus Aguilar, Indianapolis' pitching will be too much.
What about the "Magnificent Murata?" Even though Friday's game should not define the pitcher's season, he was hit very hard in his one start against Indianapolis this season (7.2 IP, 10 hits, and four earned runs). With the following in his history, this journalist feels a reoccurrence in Game 2 is possible.
An Indian that is very capable to have big hits versus Columbus is Pirates' prospect Josh Bell, as he has not missed a beat in transitioning from Double-A to Triple-A. Additionally, youngsters Alen Hanson, Willy Garcia and Keon Broxton, as well as veterans Gorkys Hernandez and Tony Sanchez will be in a lineup ready to win its first Governors' Cup since 2000.
---Indianapolis Wins in five Games.