These two teams last met in the postseason two years ago as the Curve and Baysox met in a series that went the way of the Baysox, 3-1, en route to their first ever league championship.
The rosters are virtually new for each team, but there will be plenty of intrigue with this series.
Bowie is led by Eastern League batting champion, Garabez Rosa, who hit .310 with 14 home runs and a league best 91 RBIs. Rosa also leads the EL in hits with 162.
Their lineup boasts three of the Orioles top 10 prospects including outfielder Austin Hays who has .330 since he was promoted from high-A Frederick in late June. Shortstop Ryan Mountcastle and outfielder Cedric Mullins.
The Baysox pitching staff boasts two of the Eastern League's top pitchers in MLB Pipeline's No. 23 prospect Yefry Ramirez who amassed an impressive 15-3 record with a 3.47 ERA and 1.24 WHIP between Bowie and Trenton.
Lucas Long finished third in ERA at 2.95 and went 9-6 with a 1.22 WHIP. David Hess (MLB Pipeline's No. 27 prospect), who is 11-9 with a 3.85 ERA and a WHIP of 1.18.
Meanwhile, the Curve have lost key pieces through the season including Jodan Luplow and Edwin Espinal, but they've answered the bell with their pitching staff.
Three of the Curve's top pitchers are among the top 10 in the Eastern League in ERA (Austin Coley (3.01 - 4th), Tanner Anderson (3.38 - 5th), Alex McRae (10th - 3.61).
Recently, number two prospect Mitch Keller was called up late this season and has posted a 2-2 record with a 3.12 ERA in six appearances with a WHIP of 1.04.
Following the promotion of Kevin Newman to AAA Indianapolis, Cole Tucker (No. 5 MLB Pipeline) has posted a .257 avg. with two homers and 18 RBIs.
Both teams have played around .500 ball in their last 10 games, and both teams were battling it out until Labor Day before the Curve won their finale against Harrisburg while the Baysox came up short against Richmond.
Tale of the Tape
Bowie Offense: Avg. (.283 - 1st) , HR (143 - 3rd), BB (429 - T-9th), K (940 - 9th)
Altoona Offense: Avg. (.255 - 8th), HR (99 - 9th), BB (454 - 6th), K (931 - 11th)
Bowie Pitching: ERA (4.10 - 6th), BB (491 - 4th), K (1,097 - T-2nd)
Altoona Pitching: ERA (3.67 - 3rd), BB (467 - 6th), K (1,046 - 5th)
Season Series: Bowie won 14-5
Last Playoff Series: Bowie won 3-1 (2015 Eastern League Western Division Championship Series).
Last Playoff Appearance (Team): Bowie (2015 - Eastern League Champions); Altoona (2016 - Lost Eastern League Western Division Championship Series).
Possible starting pitchers
Bowie: David Hess, John Means, Lucas Long, Yefry Ramirez, Tanner Scott
Altoona: Mitch Keller, J.T. Brubaker, Austin Coley, Alex McRae, Brandon Waddell
Schedule
Game 1: Wednesday at Bowie, 7:05 pm
Game 2: Thursday at Bowie, 7:05 pm
Game 3: Friday at Altoona, 6:00 pm
Game 4: Saturday at Altoona, 6:00 pm*
Game 5: Sunday at Altoona, 1:00 pm*
Eastern Division Championship Series
Game 1: Wednesday at Binghamton, 6:35 pm
Game 2: Thursday at Binghamton, 6:35 pm
Game 3: Friday at Trenton, 7:00 pm
Game 4: Saturday at Trenton, 7:00 pm*
Game 5: Sunday at Trenton, 5:00 pm*
*--If needed
Prediction: Curve in 5
Reason: The Curve pitching staff has been stellar lately, but don't expect the Baysox to not make this one a great series.
Winner will play: Binghamton (they'll beat Trenton in 5).
Reason: This one is hard to predict much like the West, but with the way the pitching has been for Binghamton, as well as their line up, it's hard to ignore the Rumble Ponies.
Following the promotion of Kevin Newman to AAA Indianapolis, Cole Tucker (No. 5 MLB Pipeline) has posted a .257 avg. with two homers and 18 RBIs.
Both teams have played around .500 ball in their last 10 games, and both teams were battling it out until Labor Day before the Curve won their finale against Harrisburg while the Baysox came up short against Richmond.
Tale of the Tape
Bowie Offense: Avg. (.283 - 1st) , HR (143 - 3rd), BB (429 - T-9th), K (940 - 9th)
Altoona Offense: Avg. (.255 - 8th), HR (99 - 9th), BB (454 - 6th), K (931 - 11th)
Bowie Pitching: ERA (4.10 - 6th), BB (491 - 4th), K (1,097 - T-2nd)
Altoona Pitching: ERA (3.67 - 3rd), BB (467 - 6th), K (1,046 - 5th)
Season Series: Bowie won 14-5
Last Playoff Series: Bowie won 3-1 (2015 Eastern League Western Division Championship Series).
Last Playoff Appearance (Team): Bowie (2015 - Eastern League Champions); Altoona (2016 - Lost Eastern League Western Division Championship Series).
Possible starting pitchers
Bowie: David Hess, John Means, Lucas Long, Yefry Ramirez, Tanner Scott
Altoona: Mitch Keller, J.T. Brubaker, Austin Coley, Alex McRae, Brandon Waddell
Schedule
Game 1: Wednesday at Bowie, 7:05 pm
Game 2: Thursday at Bowie, 7:05 pm
Game 3: Friday at Altoona, 6:00 pm
Game 4: Saturday at Altoona, 6:00 pm*
Game 5: Sunday at Altoona, 1:00 pm*
Eastern Division Championship Series
Game 1: Wednesday at Binghamton, 6:35 pm
Game 2: Thursday at Binghamton, 6:35 pm
Game 3: Friday at Trenton, 7:00 pm
Game 4: Saturday at Trenton, 7:00 pm*
Game 5: Sunday at Trenton, 5:00 pm*
*--If needed
Prediction: Curve in 5
Reason: The Curve pitching staff has been stellar lately, but don't expect the Baysox to not make this one a great series.
Winner will play: Binghamton (they'll beat Trenton in 5).
Reason: This one is hard to predict much like the West, but with the way the pitching has been for Binghamton, as well as their line up, it's hard to ignore the Rumble Ponies.
