For the first time since 2013, the Rochester Red Wings are going dancing.
The Red Wings survived a tight race to the postseason with Syracuse and Indianapolis, ultimately punching their ticket with a gritty 15-8 victory over the Buffalo Bisons on Sunday, Sept. 20. The regular season finale helped the Red Wings reach 90 wins in a campaign for the first time since 1953, while the team launched eight home runs in the contest – their most in a single game since 2002.
Rochester will now take the lengthy trip out to AutoZone Park, home of the Memphis Redbirds. The two are set to open up a best-of-three League Championship Series, as Memphis emerged as victors of the International League first half. The Redbirds finished the latter portion of 2026 efficiently, winning six out of their last 10 games.
As for the Red Wings, they enter tonight boasting a high-powered offense. Headlined by OF Leandro Pineda, who bats an astonishing .329 with 22 extra-base hits (12 HR, 10 2B) on the year, the team holds the eighth-highest batting average (.264), slugging percentage (.444) and OPS (.795). ‘
3B Brady House and C Riley Adams will be two powerful pieces against a quick Memphis pitching staff, as the two boast hard-hitting percentages of .523 and .484, respectively.
On the hill, LHP Matt Krook is set to make his fifth start (15th. app.) with the Red Wings in game one. The 31-year-old holds a 4.42 ERA and prides himself on a mid-90s sinker, showing promise against a hard-hitting Firebirds’ squad.
Rochester continues to impress on the defensive side coming into tonight’s playoff opener, as they hold one of the more lethal bullpens throughout all of Triple-A. Since the All-Star break, the Red Wings hold the second-lowest ERA (3.50), ninth-lowest WHIP (1.36) and ninth-highest strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.27) in Triple-A.
LHP Paxton Schultz heads Rochester’s bullpen, holding a 2.48 ERA (7 ER/28.1 IP) and 1.03 WHIP through 26 games in relief with the Red Wings. With a flawless record of 2-0 and a speedy fastball, Schultz shows extreme command on the mound and projects to be a critical piece in Rochester’s hopeful playoff run.
The Red Wings and Redbirds have not met since September of 2025, a series in which Memphis emerged victorious, 4-2. Trends emerge in the favor of Rochester, though, as they hold the fourth-highest batting average (.271), sixth-highest OBP (.359) and eighth-highest OPS (.783) among all Triple-A teams versus Redbirds’ pitching since 2021.
First pitch at AutoZone Park is set for 7:45 p.m. and can be streamed on Bally Sports Live App.