The Chatham Anglers (26-14-1) have already clinched first place in the East Division, but they have lost two-straight and four of their last six games. With only three games left in the regular season, the Anglers are looking to bounce back and build momentum going into the playoffs.
"Of course you want to go into the playoffs on a winning streak,"
Brandon Sedell (Nova Southeastern) said. "We just need to get back to the way we have been playing the whole season."
The Anglers were recently swept in a doubleheader at the hands of the Harwich Mariners, resulting in only their third losing streak of the season.
Chatham will travel to Lowell park for the second and final time of the regular season to take on the Cotuit Kettleers.
Manager
John Schiffner will send right-hander
Andrew Chin (Boston College), who is also trying to get back on track, to the mound to take on the Kettleers.
After not allowing a run in his first eight innings pitched this season, Chin now holds a 2-1 record with a 6.31 earned run average.
In his last three outings, Chin has allowed 13 hits and 11 runs.
If the Anglers are going to get back on track, the middle of the Chatham order will have to be one of the causes.
Batters two through five of the Anglers lineup, which includes
Dante Flores (USC),
Connor Joe (San Diego),
J.D Davis (Cal State Fullerton), and
Jimmy Pickens (Michigan State) are all hitting over .300, and have accounted for 12 home runs, 79 RBI, 34 doubles, and 55 walks.
For a team that is hitting .234 over the past week, Pickens has been the leader. He is hitting for an impressive .474 average with three home runs, 8 RBI, five runs scored, and has a league-leading 1.053 slugging percentage over that span.
Mitch Gunsolus (Gonzaga), has also been hot at the plate. In his past four games, Gunsolus is hitting .467 with seven hits, three RBI, and two runs scored.
With the recent losses of sluggers Mike Ford (Princeton) and Yale Rosen (Washington State), infielder Danny Diekroeger (Stanford) has stepped up and led the Kettleers offense. He is hitting .319 on the season in 25 games for Cotuit.
With only the game against Cotuit today, then two games against the streaking Orleans Firebirds, the Anglers are going to have to find a spark quick if they want to go into the playoffs.
"I think we will be fine. We just need to refocus and get back to playing hard every day. We can not take any days off in this league," Schiffner said.
First pitch at 4:30 p.m. Tune into the Anglers Extra Pregame Show at 4:10 p.m. for live coverage with broadcasters Brandon Liebhaber and Keith Zubrow at
TRZ Teamline or call 1-800-846-4700, code 3841.
Chris Jones is the Beat Writer and Social Media Manager for the Chatham Anglers. Follow him on twitter at @Chrisjones_UO, and follow the Chatham Anglers at @ChathamAnglers.