SERIES FACTS
Game times: 6:35 p.m. Saturday, Monday and Tuesday, 2:05 p.m. Sunday
Where: Perfect Game Field, Cedar Rapids
Second-half records: Bees 15-25, Kernels 23-17
Overall records: Bees 54-56, Kernels 62-48
Season series: Kernels lead, 10-4
TEAM COMPARISONS
Last 10: Bees 2-8, Kernels 6-4
Home vs. road: Bees 22-30 on the road, Kernels 30-26 at home
Run differential: Bees minus-4, Kernels plus-28
Extra innings: Bees 7-4, Kernels 4-1
One-run games: Bees 22-19, Kernels 23-11
HEAD TO HEAD
Batting average: Bees .189, Kernels .237
ERA: Bees 3.86, Kernels 3.10
WHAT TO WATCH
The Kernels and Bees tied for second place in the Midwest League’s Western Division in the first half. Cedar Rapids has kept its pace going in the second half, the Bees have not.
Burlington is on a five-game losing streak, the longest current streak in the Midwest League.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Bees infielder Justin Jones has a .300 batting average in 11 games against the Kernels. Pitcher Kyle Tyler is 1-0 with an 0.75 ERA against Cedar Rapids in two starts.
Most of the Kernels who have done damage against the Bees earlier this season are gone. Outfielder Jared Akins had a .268 average with three home runs and nine runs batted in against Burlington. Pitcher Luis Rijo is 2-0 with 12 shutout innings against the Bees. Pitcher Austin Schulfer is 3-0 with a 1.50 ERA, and combined to no-hit the Bees earlier in the season.
— John Bohnenkamp