In the midst of a three-game winning streak, the Anglers will host Orleans in a clash between the top two teams in the East Division. 

Chatham most recently won a come-from-behind game against Harwich in which the A’s wiped away an early 2-0 lead. After a Jamal O’Guinn (USC) leadoff walk got him home to score a third unanswered run, the Anglers pitching shutout the Mariners for the final seven innings.

“To win tonight, I don’t know if I want to say it’s an accident, but that was a gutsy effort,” manager Tom Holliday said on Tuesday. “That’s where ball clubs can turn into good teams.”

Orleans has a winning streak of their own. In their last game, the Firebirds extended their streak to five wins in a row after defeating Hyannis, 7-5.

Probable pitchers 

Dane Acker (Oklahoma) will start for the A’s on Wednesday. In his first two appearances, the right-handed pitcher was near perfect — five innings, two hits allowed with no runs. But against Bourne on June 26, he gave up six hits, four earned runs and was credited with the loss. Acker comes into Wednesday’s matchup with a 4.69 ERA and eight strikeouts.

Cole Ayers (State College of Florida) and Zarion Sharpe (North Carolina Wilmington) are expected to come in relief. Ayers allowed three earned runs against Wareham on June 28, but comes into Wednesday with a 3.85 ERA in 9.1 innings. Sharpe has only recorded two three inning outing (one was negated because of fog) and has yet to allow a run in six frames of work.

Adam Seminaris (Long Beach State) will be the opposing pitcher for Orleans. Seminaris, a left-hander, has allowed just one earned in 13.2 innings. His 0.59 WHIP is one of the leaders in the Cape League and he’s kept hitters to a .184 on-base percentage. 

Players to watch

Charlie Welch (St John’s River State College) broke out of his 1-for-25 spell with a pinch hit, RBI single against Harwich. His single brought home the tying run in the eventual 3-2 victory.

Paxton Wallace (Wichita State) has been slow to come back from his early season injury, but the infielder has a hit in four of the last five games. In the A’s 15-1 win over Yarmouth-Dennis, Wallace was one of three players to homer, and on Wednesday, he had one of Chatham’s five hits.

Stat to know — 2.61

Orleans has the top pitching staff in the Cape League. Its 2.61 ERA leads all 10 teams and its five shutouts equal the rest of the East Division combined. 

Last year’s series

The Anglers dropped last year’s series, 2-4. Orleans outscored Chatham 29-21 in those six matchups.