1. Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks (47-34, T-2nd, 5 GB in West)
Record last week: 3-0 vs. Lincoln, 2-1 @ Sioux City
Here we go, the top spot in the West just got a bit more interesting. The RedHawks may still be five games back, but they just went into Sioux City, took two out of three and now lead the season series 5-4 against the Explorers with three more matchups coming to start this week of games. They also just pulled off a big trade, acquiring two-time all-star catcher Erik Ostberg from the Milwaukee Milkmen in exchange for Alec Olund, three players to be named later and future considerations. This team is now 13-2 since the all-star break and also owns the league’s best team ERA at 3.51.
2. Sioux City Explorers (52-29, 1st, West)
Record last week: 3-0 vs. Milwaukee, 1-2 vs. Fargo-Moorhead
The Explorers got a wake-up call this weekend with the RedHawks taking two of three, but the series certainly could have gone either way with each game having been decided by two runs or less. Games aren’t played on paper, but the RedHawks are the only team with a better team ERA than the Explorers 3.71 mark and offensively the Explorers are down to 10th in the league with a .250 team batting average.
3. Lake Country DockHounds (48-31, 1st, East)
Record last week: 3-0 vs. Kane County, 2-1 vs. Chicago
A fantastic week for Lake Country has put them firmly atop the East, 7.5 games up over Chicago who they are 9-3 against this season (one win away from clinching the season-series). On paper it’s not hard to tell why this team is having so much success, as they’re the only team in the top three in terms of both team ERA (3.96) and team batting average (.263). With a favorable schedule ahead of teams exclusively in the East division, the only question is can the DockHounds handle business the rest of the way and make a run at the Miles Wolff Cup?
4. Kansas City Monarchs (47-34, T-2nd, 5 GB in West)
Record last week: 2-1 vs. Chicago, 2-1 @ Sioux Falls
For the second straight week the Monarchs got the best of Sioux Falls, showing their ability to win a tight game 4-2 as well as their powerful offense by scoring 10 runs in each of the final two games. As we’ve said throughout the season, you can never count the Monarchs out of a game or a series with the firepower they have in the lineup, but the question will be can the pitching keep up. With a favorable schedule ahead, they could make a run at the top spot in the West, but with both Sioux City and Fargo-Moorhead owning the tiebreakers with no matchups remaining against them, it will be an uphill climb.
5. Sioux Falls Canaries (45-36, 4th, 7 GB in West)
Record last week: 2-2 vs. Winnipeg, 1-2 vs. Kansas City
Another lackluster week for the Canaries has them at the bottom of the four contenders in the West, with any hopes of climbing to that top spot fading quickly. If not for a wild walk-off win in which they were no-hit for 10.2 innings, they would have lost both series this past week. Despite that, it’s hard not to think the Canaries are a dangerous team come playoff time with their lineup including Calvin Estrada who leads the league in hitting at .341 with 17 homers and 69 runs batted in. Similar to Kansas City, the pitching staff will just have to step up, currently ranking 7th in team ERA at 4.61.
