Pitching
Advantage: Drillers
Sending a combination of Eddie Butler, Tyler Anderson, Carlos Hernandez, Jon Gray an Daniel Winkler to the mound to start each game of a five-game series would be a threat of epic proportions — and likely too much for any opposing team to overcome at the minor league level. But, the Drillers will only have three of the five available for the Texas League playoffs.
Advantage: Drillers
Sending a combination of Eddie Butler, Tyler Anderson, Carlos Hernandez, Jon Gray an Daniel Winkler to the mound to start each game of a five-game series would be a threat of epic proportions — and likely too much for any opposing team to overcome at the minor league level. But, the Drillers will only have three of the five available for the Texas League playoffs.
Butler will get the ball in Game 1, and Anderson — the Texas League's Pitcher of the Year — will also pitch at ONEOK Field in Game 2. Then Hernandez takes over in Game 3.
As for Gray and Winkler, neither figure to return in the playoffs due to injuries. Well, in Gray's case, it's more precautionary than anything.
Having Ryan Arrowood and Jayson Aquino available helps the Drillers, too, but relievers Kraig Sitton, Cole White and Nate Striz have been inconsistent lately.
Arkansas' arsenal of arms can't be overlooked, either. The Travelers allowed the fewest amounts of runs (508) in the Texas League, and credit is due in regards to starters, Drew Rucinski, Michael Roth, Orangel Arenas and Nate Smith.
The problem for Arkansas, however, is that Roth and reliever Cam Bedrosian were called up the Angels before the Texas League playoffs.
Losing two MLB-caliber arms in Double-A will hurt any team, thus giving Tulsa a slight edge in the arms race heading into the postseason.
Hitting
Advantage: Drillers (surprisingly)
When it came to hitting in the Texas League, the South Division did the heavy lifting. The North did the grunt work while trying to score runs.
The Drillers and Travelers were separated by one run during the regular season: Tulsa 570, Arkansas 569. Both were also low in the home run-hitting department, with the Drillers falling three short of 100, while Arkansas was dead last in the league at 79.
The offensive statistics, however, may be a little misleading since Arkansas boasts the league's Player of the Year in Alex Yarbrough. The Travelers also have August's Player of the Month in Brian Hernandez (.364/.458/.535 in August). But outside of those two, only Mike Bianucci really strikes fear into the heart of Tulsa's pitchers.
Tulsa can't exactly lay claim to any overwhelming offensive presences, but Ryan Casteel (.280 average, 16 home runs, 194 total bases), Cristhian Adames (.267) and Taylor Featherston (218 total bases) make for tough outs.
Bottom line: don't look for the North Division playoffs to become a home run derby contest of any kind.
Fielding
Advantage: Arkansas
Of the 508 runs that Arkansas allowed this season, 456 of them were earned. So rarely did the Travelers not make a team earn every run scored.
Chalk that up to solid defense.
Tulsa allowed 85 unearned runs, and that was good for the middle of the pack in the league.
The Drillers' combination of Adames-Featherston-Story in the infield is strong, and Massey in right field is good. But inconsistency tends to hamper the Drillers at times (see Adames' four-error game against Springfield on Sunday).
Intangibles
Advantage: Arkansas
Credit the intangible advantage to having Game 5 in Little Rock, despite the Travelers' 35-35 home record this season.
Arkansas has also been the more consistent ball club this season, finishing the season 75-65, good enough for 3 1/2 games better than Tulsa.
The Drillers, though, have been playing better lately. Tulsa also was 39-31 away from ONEOK Field this season, so playing in Little Rock might not bother the Tulsa too much.
Analysis
Seems cliché to say Game 1 is a "must win" game, but I like the odds for the team that wins the opener.
If Arkansas earns a split in Tulsa with Butler and Anderson pitching, the Travelers should feel pretty good when heading home. If Tulsa can secure wins with its two best pitchers, you'd have to like the Drillers to steal one in Little Rock.
If Arkansas had Roth and Bedrosian, I'd like its chances. But such is not the case.
The pick: Tulsa wins Game 1, 5-3, and wraps up the North Division series in five games.
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