American Association Daily provides insights, features, and recaps of the action from around the American Association of Professional Baseball League, as well as player and coaching profiles and transactions. In today’s edition, Robert Pannier takes a look at the six series this weekend, including a battle for the top spot in the East Division as the Cleburne Railroaders continue their series against the Milwaukee Milkmen.

Let’s Get Ready to Rumble

It is weekend No. 2 in the American Association, as all 12 teams will be in action. Four of the series are inter-division clashes, meaning there will just be two division battles this weekend. It is always a lot of fun to see whether the East or West is the top division, but this weekend offers a spectacular battle between the Cleburne Railroaders and the Milwaukee Milkmen, two of the teams expected to battle for the division crown. Plus, the surging Sioux Falls Canaries travel to take on the struggling Kansas City Monarchs in the West.

Cleburne Railroaders (5-2) – Milwaukee Milkmen (3-2)

This is Game 4 of this six-game set between the teams. It is a huge series for both clubs, as this will be the only time these teams face each other in Milwaukee this season, and all six contests are played within the first 12 days of the season.

Milwaukee earned the victory on Tuesday, winning 8-2, but Cleburne responded with sensational pitching performances, holding the Milkmen to a single run in each of the last two games. Kevin Hilton is likely to make his debut for the Railroaders this weekend and Kody Bullard will likely go on Saturday. Look for Ryan Zimmerman to start on Friday. He tossed five shutout innings in his first start of the season for Milwaukee. Kyle Mora will go tomorrow. Sunday will likely be a rematch of the first game the series, a contest where Frankie Bartow allowed just two runs in six innings to lead Milwaukee to an 8-2 victory. Travis Perry gave up six earned runs in four innings in the loss.

This is a battle of two of the better offenses in the league as Cleburne is fourth in team batting average (.273) and Milwaukee is right behind (.272). The Railroaders have stolen 11 bases while the Milkmen have stolen 10. The big difference is power, where Cleburne leads the American Association with 12 homers while Milwaukee has just four. The Railroaders have also walked 25 times more than the Milkmen have.

Sioux Falls Canaries (3-4) – Kansas City Monarchs (1-5)

No team is in need of a little home cooking more than the Kansas City Monarchs. Kansas City has dropped five of their first six games, and has done so in miserable fashion. The club is dead last in runs scored (19) and have just three home runs, two of which came off the bat of catcher Chris Herrmann in one game. The Monarchs scored 10 runs in the victory over Gary on Tuesday, but have produced just nine total in the other five games, including being held to one or fewer runs in four of those contests.

The Sioux Falls Canaries dropped three of the first four games of the season to Cleburne, but took two of three from Lincoln during the week. They could’ve easily swept that series, taking an 11-6 lead into the top of the fifth, but then gave up 10 unanswered runs in the loss. Pitching is always the question in Sioux Falls, and it is the bullpen struggling early on. Akeem Bostick should make his third start in the series, and Colby Wyatt will go as well. He tossed six shutout innings in his first start of the season.

Sioux City Explorers (5-1) – Kane County Cougars (2-4)

Sioux City has the top record in the American Association through the first nine days, and are doing so with spectacular pitching. The club has a 2.47 ERA, but gave up 14 runs in their one loss. In the other five games they have allowed four total runs. This is their first trip to the road, but they should have some continuing success, as Northwest Medicine Field is a notorious pitchers Park.

Also helping Sioux City is the fact that Kane County is struggling offensively. They have scored 27 runs in six games, but have just one home run and have walked 24 times, ranked seventh overall. The Cougars are getting solid pitching as well (3.46) and are holding opponents to a .201 batting average. Look for this to be a low-scoring series where the bullpen will be the key each night.

Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks (4-2) – Chicago Dogs (4-2)

This promises to be an exciting series as it is a battle of the second-place teams in both divisions. Fargo-Moorhead took two of the three games in each of their first two series, and leave North Dakota to begin a nine-game road trip. The RedHawks pitching is struggled, posting a 5.76 ERA and the offense has not been lighting it up either, posting a .223 batting average with six home runs. This group is too good, however, but facing the Dogs is not a great place to try to get your offense in rhythm.

Chicago has taken two of the three games in each of their first two series as well, losing the first game of each set before winning the last two. The Chicago offense has really struggled early on, last in team batting average (.213). However, Josh Altmann has been an absolute beast, leading the American Association with four home runs and is hitting .476 with 11 RBI. He is everything the team could have wanted when they acquired him from Lincoln. Brennan Metzger (.130) is going to need to get his bat going.

Lake Country DockHounds (1-4) – Winnipeg Goldeyes (2-4)

Lake Country is trying to find their identity early on. This team has struggled offensively on most nights, producing six total runs in their four losses. They put up 14 against a very good Sioux City pitching staff on Wednesday, but have not been able to find any type of consistent run production. The DockHounds are 11th in runs scored, producing 20 total runs, which is cause for concern considering 14 came in one contest. The pitching staff has been solid, sixth in the league in ERA (4.87).

After starting with six games on the road, Winnipeg will finally play their home opener. They are home from nine straight contests, and have an opportunity to build some momentum with three-game sets against Lake Country, Kane County, and Sioux Falls. The Goldeyes are also struggling at the plate, hitting .215 is a team. They have scored 29 runs, but 11 of those came in one contest.

Gary SouthShore RailCats (4-2) – Lincoln Saltdogs (2-4)

The Gary SouthShore RailCats are another club that dropped the first game of each of their first two series, then won the last two games. That includes taking two of three games from the Kansas City Monarchs. The RailCats are heading to the road for the first time this season, making trips to Lincoln and Lake Country, and this is an opportunity for Gary SouthShore to build a little momentum as well. The RailCats have been very good offensively early on, third in runs scored (44), first in doubles (13), second in extra-base hits (20), and third in batting average (.278). They may have the best leadoff hitter in the American Association (Michael Woodworth) that no one is ever heard it before.

Lincoln was looking like they were in a little bit of trouble. After winning the first game of the season, the team dropped the next two in Chicago and looked like they were going to be swept in Sioux Falls before pulling a rabbit out of their hat with 10 unanswered runs late in Thursday’s contest. This is a team struggling to shut down opponents, giving up at least five runs in five straight games. Lincoln is 11th in team ERA (7.36).

By Robert Pannier