Series Preview: Asheville Tourists vs Savannah Sand Gnats

The Colorado Rockies’ affiliate in the South Atlantic League, the Asheville Tourists, starts their first playoff series tonight. Here’s what you need to know.

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The Colorado Rockies’ affiliate Asheville Tourists are in the South Atlantic League playoffs, and their first series starts tonight in their quest for a SAL title. Of course, having won the league in 2014, the Tourists are hoping for a repeat this year after getting into the playoffs by the skin of their teeth.

So, considering this is literally the only affiliate across the entire Rockies’ system that will enjoy playoff games come season’s end, it’s only fair to break down the Tourists’ playoff series so you can follow along with them this week on their quest for back-to-back championships.

The Asheville Tourists will face the Savannah Sand Gnats, the New York Mets’ class A affiliate in the South Atlantic League’s Southern Division.

Game one of the best-of-three series is at McCormick Field in Asheville on Wednesday night. Game two, and (if necessary) game three will be in Savannah at the Sand Gnats’ home facility on Friday and Saturday.

GAME ONE — Wednesday, September 9, 7:05 pm ET
Savannah Sand Gnats @ Asheville Tourists
Martires Arias (8-5, 2.29) vs. Jesus Tinoco (7-6, 2.97)

Tourists Notes: Jesus Tinoco has quickly become the Tourists’ ace after he was added to the roster when the Colorado Rockies acquired him from the Toronto Blue Jays as part of the Troy Tulowitzki trade. … Tinoco faced Savannah on August 2 — coincidentally, his first start in the Rockies’ system — and threw six scoreless innings, allowing just four hits and no walks while striking out seven. … In that start, Tinoco also beat Martires Arias, the pitcher he’s facing Wednesday night. … With the Tourists this year, Tinoco is 5-0 in seven starts with a 1.80 ERA, and 37 strikeouts against just 8 walks in 40 innings. … Shane Hoelscher won the South Atlantic League batting title with a .328 average, beating his next closer competitor (Luis Guillorme of the Sand Gnats) by ten points. … The Tourists have struggled at home this year, going just 34-36 overall.

Gnats Notes: Arias, 6’7″, has made 20 starts for the Sand Gnats this season, as well as one for Class-A Advanced St. Lucie. … He’s struck out 110 batters in 110 innings in Savannah, though he has walked 42 and hit 15 more (!), suggesting he’s far more wild than Tinoco. … On August 2 against Tinoco, Arias threw six innings, allowing two runs on four hits and a walk while striking out six, but taking a tough luck loss. … Arias went undefeated in his starts since the August 2 loss to Asheville. … The Gnats are very good (42-27) on the road.

GAME TWO — Friday, September 11, 7:05 pm ET
Asheville Tourists @ Savannah Sand Gnats
Carlos Polanco (9-10, 3.90) vs. Ricky Knapp (8-4, 3.05)

Tourists Notes: The Tourists are pretty decent on the road, having gone 38-31 this year away from McCormick Field. … Carlos Polanco is having a nice season overall, but he’s struggled a bit against the Sand Gnats — and he’s faced them a lot. In his last three starts against Savannah (August 28, August 1, July 14), he’s combined for just 12.2 innings while allowing six earned runs on 15 hits and six walks, taking two losses in the process.

Gnats Notes: The Gnats are just as good at home (42-26) as they are on the road, so there won’t be an easy win in this playoff series. … Knapp threw seven shutout innings against Asheville on July 31. However, he was tagged for 11 hits (but only three earned runs) in five innings of work against the Tourists on August 25.

GAME THREE (if necessary) — Saturday, September 12, 6:05 pm ET
Asheville Tourists @ Savannah Sand Gnats
TBD (-) vs. TBD (-)

Tourists Notes: Not much to go on here, since neither team has announced a starting pitcher for the third game, considering it isn’t evidently necessary yet. For the Asheville Tourists, though, expect Sam Howard or Grahamm Wiest to get the start considering their good numbers in the rotation this year.

Gnats Notes: Expect Casey Delgado or Corey Oswalt to start game three; Oswalt is the Sand Gnats’ ace, but started on September 7 and won’t be available until at least the 12th for his next start.

NEXT UP (if necessary)
Asheville Tourists vs Hickory Crawdads or West Virginia Power

The Hickory Crawdads and West Virginia Power are facing off as the representatives of the Northern Division of the South Atlantic League in a three-game series this week. The winner of that series will face the winner between the Sand Gnats and Tourists.

For what it’s worth, with a .518 winning percentage, the Tourists are the weakest of the four teams in the playoffs, relative to the Sand Gnats (.613), Crawdads (.587), and Power (.626). Let’s go, under dog!!

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