(Reading, PA) - The Reading Fightin Phils (Philadelphia Phillies, Double-A) are playing host to the Chesapeake Bay Sox (Baltimore Orioles, Double-A) for a six-game series from this Tuesday through Sunday. This is the first and only series between the two programs, as both are vying for second half division titles.
On Tuesday, there’s a Rocky Colavito Baseballtown Hall of Fame Reading Indians Bobble Head giveaway. The first 2,500 adults to enter the gates at FirstEnergy Stadium will get the bobblehead on their way in. Wednesday is the team’s “Stand Up To Cancer” Fightin Cancer Night. Fans can honor their loved one with their name on a player’s jersey during the game. Thursday is the first fireworks show of the week, and it’s also Recovery Awareness night. Friday is a Dead Head Tribute night with a pregame and post-game concert by “Good Lovin Jam Band”. Saturday is the 28th Annual Harley Night, as the first 2,500 adults get an R-Phils Harley game cap. This will also be the third straight game with a post-game fireworks show. Sunday wraps up the series, and the first 2,000 kids will get a pre-game player autograph session at 4 PM.
Reading (23-16, 53-55) is fresh off of a 3-3 series split against the Richmond Flying Squirrels. This included a remarkable comeback on Sunday, where the Fightins erased a 5-0 deficit and took the series finale 6-5. Pedro León went 11-for-29 this week, logging a .458 batting average with two homers and five runs batted in. Caleb Ricketts also had a strong week, going 7-for-18 (.438 AVG) with a home run and five runs batted in.
Reading’s offense is hammering homers at a remarkable clip; the team’s 140 homers is the second-most in the Eastern League. Al Pedrique’s group also continues to be aggressive on the bases, as their 156 stolen bases is tied for third most in the league. The R-Phils pitching staff has still walked the least amount of hitters in the league at 355.
Alex Binelas has been on a tear, leading all Eastern League hitters with 23 homers on the season. Binelas is also top five in the league in OPS (.939, second), total bases (187, second), walks (64, third), RBI (65, fourth), OBP (.402, fourth), SLG (.537, fourth) and runs (67, fifth).
Chesapeake (22-17, 51-56) just took four of seven from the Harrisburg Senators (Washington Nationals, Double-A) this last week. The Bay Sox pitching staff allowed just 12 runs all week, giving up just 1.7 per contest.
Robert Mercado’s squad has been very patient this season, drawing the fourth-most amount of walks (460) this season. They also have the fourth least amount of strikeouts. The pitching staff has the fourth-best earned run average (4.56) in the league as well.
Aron Estrada paces the Chesapeake offense, hitting 16 home runs and a team-best 58 runs batted in this season. Estrada is slashing .276/.312/.461 over 96 games this season.
The pitching matchups for this week are as follows:
- Tuesday: LHP Caden Hunter (2-1, 1.60 ERA) vs. RHP Jean Cabrera (3-5, 7.19 ERA)
- Wednesday: LHP Joseph Dzierwa (2-1. 2.07 ERA) vs. RHP Luke Russo (9-6, 4.28 ERA)
- Thursday: RHP Pat Reilly (0-0, 7.04 ERA) vs. LHP Adam Seminaris (10-7, 3.34 ERA)
- Friday: RHP Anthony Eyanson (5-0, 1.47 ERA) vs. RHP Gage Wood (0-1, 4.84 ERA)
- Saturday: RHP JT Quinn (4-3, 3.75 ERA) vs. RHP Braydon Tucker (7-7, 3.41 ERA)
- Sunday: LHP Caden Hunter (2-1, 1.60 ERA) vs. RHP Jean Cabrera (3-5, 7.19 ERA)
The Orioles’ top 30 prospects (per MLB.com) on the Bay Sox roster are as follows:
- No. 1 - Anthony Eyanson - RHP
- No. 4 - Joseph Dzierwa - LHP
- No. 5 - Wehiwa Aloy - SS
- No. 9 - Aron Estrada - 2B/OF
- No. 15 - Caden Hunter - LHP
- No. 16 - Ethan Anderson - C/1B
- No. 18 - Braxton Bragg - RHP
- No. 29 - Patrick Reilly - RHP
The 2026 R-Phils season is presented by Pepsi. Follow the Fightin Phils on Twitter @ReadingFightins, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Instagram @Fightins.