Whitecaps have work to do to snap playoff drought

PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — With three weeks left in the season, the West Michigan Whitecaps have some work to do to break their five-year stretch of missing the playoffs.

Entering Tuesday, the Whitecaps (27-20) sit 2.5 games back from the Dayton Dragons (30-18) for first place in the Midwest League’s East Division. The Caps split last week’s six-game series in Lansing (22-26), while the Dragons used a 5-1 week over Fort Wayne (17-31) to separate themselves from the field.

Top Tigers prospect Max Clark has slowed down a touch following his strong start with the Caps. However, he had a four-hit game last Wednesday and finished a home run short of the cycle.

In his place, Max Anderson’s bat has warmed up, and newly acquired Thayron Liranzo has stayed scorching hot after being moved to West Michigan.

Anderson has hit .311 for the month of August, including two hits in each of his last five games. In his 15 games since being acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Tigers’ Jack Flaherty trade , Liranzo has hit .396 for the Whitecaps, including four home runs, 13 RBI and a .547 on-base percentage.

This week, the Whitecaps will welcome the Lake County Captains (24-22) to LMCU Ballpark for a six-game series. The Captains had been one of the most consistent teams in the Midwest League throughout the season and secured a playoff spot after winning the East Division in the first half of the year. However, they have slowed down in August, going 3-7 in their last 10 games.

Dayton will welcome Cedar Rapids (24-24) for a six-game series of their own. The Kernels are also fighting for a playoff berth, one game back of Quad Cities (25-23) for the West Division’s second playoff spot. The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (28-19) sit atop the West Division standings but have already secured their position by winning the division in the first half of the season.

After the series with Lake County, the Caps will travel to Dayton for a six-game series, a prime opportunity to claim the East Division title. West Michigan will wrap up the season at home against the Lugnuts, while the Dragons will close on the road against the Great Lakes Loons.

First pitch for Tuesday’s game against the Captains is set for 6:35 p.m.

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