Cooper Smith
KNOXVILLE, TN – The second final home stand of the 2026 calendar season will feature the top two teams in the Southern League South as we continue to push towards playoff baseball. Rocket City has a one-game lead on the Smokies as we enter the six-game set in East Tennessee, as Knoxville holds an edge in the season series 10-8. The Southern League North first-half winners hosted the Trash Pandas at Covenant Health Park back in April at the beginning of the season and won the series 4-2 by pounding the baseball early in the week, which mirrors what the Smokies just did in Chattanooga. The doubleheader on Wednesday featured two phenomenal starts and a few timely long balls by some newer names, which put the Smokies in a great spot to win the series early. Early in the week versus Rocket City, Knoxville receives a special guest from the Northside in Edward Cabrera, who is set to make a rehab start tomorrow to open up the series, but Rocket City has some power arms on the mound themselves, with three of their top 30 prospects set to make starts in this must-win series.
First pitch for the series is set for 7:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday night.
There’s no doubt that Knoxville has been searching at the plate post-All-Star break, batting .195 with a .606 OPS with runners in scoring position. However, the Smokies staff has the lowest WHIP in the Southern League post-All-Star break, with an ERA that sits just outside of the top 10 in Double-A baseball as well. The sparks offensively have come from all over, new names, and tenured names. The recent signing of Dom Krupinski has worked out so far, as he has posted a .625 slugging percentage with four extra-base hits in just under 25 at-bats. It’s players like this that continue to help the Smokies win even after the departure of Jefferson Rojas after the deadline and Owen Ayers post-promotion.
Starting pitching has been lights out since the All-Star break shift. In 21 starts, Smokies’ starters hold a 3.60 ERA in 100 innings twirled, with 99 strikeouts to go along with that ERA. The reason for the success has a lot to do with limiting base runners, as the Knoxville starters have allowed the least amount of hits in the Southern League post-All-Star break as well. It seems as if every game Knoxville is receiving 5 or more innings with 2 or less runs, minimum… and the statistics back that feeling up.
For the Trash Pandas, it was and continues to be small ball… however, Rocket City is the only Southern League North squad that can say they have a positive run differential in the second half. The offense has felt that boost of confidence… just this past series against Birmingham, the bats put up 28 runs in four games before the weekend, before being shut out Saturday with a 2-1 victory on Sunday. The arms for Rocket City… just as effective, especially the relief corps. The Trash Pandas bullpen is the only group to have an ERA under 4 in the second half (3.93)… and when they have a lead late, the ninth is on lockdown no matter who it is, with the arm barn holding on for 13 saves in 17 opportunities… the most saves in the league during that span.
Players to Watch
With Knoxville’s pitching carrying a bulk of the success recently, it’s only fitting to host a Chicago Cub rotation arm, as the Smokies are blessed with an Edward Cabrera rehab start tomorrow to open up the series. Cabrera is coming off a recent rehab start with AAA Iowa, where he went 4 IP, allowing just one hit and one run, while striking out 8 batters. Cabrera has been out since late June with a left hamstring/adductor strain. The Cubs righty was placed on the IL and has missed significant time, which was another costly blow to the thin Chicago rotation. The former Pensacola Blue Wahoo, during his rise to the show, has made 14 starts with Chicago this season prior to the injury, in his first season with the big brothers up north, holding a 5.10 ERA in 72.1 IP. Cabrera gets the rock, Game 1 of the series on Tuesday, first pitch at 7:00 PM ET.
Since returning from the mid-summer four-day break, there hasn’t been a more surprising and necessary bat than Miguel Useche. Useche has bounced up and down the lineup, but with the recent success, he has shifted towards the top. Among hitters with 50 or more at-bats since July 17th, Useche holds the best OPS (.911) and holds the most extra-base hits during that span as well (7). We have seen Useche’s power on full display as well, as he went deep at Erlanger Park in the first three games of the series against the Lookouts last week, with all three home runs being timely and clutch as well. Not to mention, he has done everything asked of him on the lineup card as well… DHing, catching, and playing some first base. The rise of Miguel Useche in the lineup has been huge with the recent departures of some big bats. If Knoxville wants to make a deep run at a ring next month, Miguel Useche will need to play as big of a part in the process as anyone else.
Probable Pitching Matchups
8/11 Tuesday, 7:00 p.m. ET
RHP Edward Cabrera vs. RHP Austin Gordon
8/12 Wednesday, 7:00 p.m. ET
RHP Connor Schultz vs. LHP Lucas Knowles
8/13 Thursday, 7:00 p.m. ET
RHP Brody McCullough vs. RHP Nate Snead
8/14 Friday, 7:00 p.m. ET
RHP Luis Martinez-Gomes vs. RHP Kyle Robinson
8/15 Saturday, 7:00 p.m. ET
RHP Brooks Caple vs. RHP Nate Tyler Bremner
8/16 Sunday, 2:00 p.m. ET
RHP Kevin Valdez vs. RHP Eybersson Polanco
Wrap Up
With the offenses switching into a higher gear, it will give both staffs some breathing room on the bump, but with Rocket City and Knoxville going head to head, we will see who bends first. The bullpen has been what to hang the hat on for the Trash Pandas; for the Smokies, it’s starting pitching. The highlight of this series will be the starting with premier arms on both sides. Chattanooga features three top 30 prospects on the mound this series with Tyler Bremmner, Nate Snead, and Austin Gordon. For the Smokies, it’s three top 30 prospects and a big leaguer… Brooks Caple, Luis Martinez-Gomes, Brody McCullough, and Edward Cabrera. Top-end talent on full display in East Tennessee, come out to Covenant Health Park for a full week of baseball.
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