Photo: Burlington’s Spencer Griffin has batted .378 with two home runs against Peoria this season. (Steve Cirinna/Burlington Bees)
A look at the Burlington Bees’ three-game road series against the Peoria Chiefs.
SERIES FACTS
Game times: 6:35 p.m. Saturday and Monday, 5:05 p.m. Sunday.
Where: Dozer Park, Peoria, Ill.
Second-half records: Bees 14-19, Chiefs 8-25
Overall records: Bees 53-50, Chiefs 38-64
Season series: Bees lead, 9-3.
PITCHING MATCHUPS
Saturday: Robinson Pina (4-5, 4.42) vs. TBD
Sunday: Clayton Chatham (0-0, 0.00) vs. TBD
Monday: Luis Alvarado (4-6, 3.08) vs. TBD
TEAM COMPARISONS
Last 10: Bees 5-5, Chiefs 4-6
Home vs. road: Bees 21-26 on the road, Chiefs 20-32 at home.
Run differential: Bees plus-3, Chiefs minus-104
Extra innings: Bees 7-4, Chiefs 2-5
One-run games: Bees 22-18, Chiefs 10-19
HEAD TO HEAD
Batting average: Bees .262, Chiefs .225
ERA: Bees 2.88, Chiefs 4.56
WHAT TO WATCH
The two teams will reach the halfway point of the second half on Sunday. The Bees, who lost out on a first-half playoff spot on a tiebreaker, need some work to get into contention in the second half. The Chiefs, with the second-worst overall record in the Midwest League, haven’t improved in the second half.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Several Bees have thrived against the Chiefs. Shortstop Livan Soto has a .500 average and a 1.238 OPS in three early-season games against Peoria. Outfielder Spencer Griffin has a .378 average and a 1.068 OPS. Outfielder Francisco Del Valle has a .364 average and a 1.033 OPS. Catcher Keinner Pina has played in two games against the Chiefs, but is 4-for-7 with the only home run of his pro career.
Robinson Pina has struggled against the Chiefs in two starts, with a 9.00 ERA. Chatham and Alvarado will be facing them for the first time.
Peoria catcher Ivan Herrera had a .318 average vs. Burlington this season. Outfielder Brandon Benson has two of the Chiefs’ three home runs against the Bees.
— John Bohnenkamp
Baseball at The Hive 