Redbirds readying for the playoffs
Memphis will host OKC in first round
After taking home the Pacific Coast League title last season, the Memphis Redbirds followed up their championship campaign with another American Southern Division crown and a PCL-best 83-57 record in 2018.
Now, Memphis is set to begin its title defense in a five-game series against the American Northern Division champion Oklahoma City Dodgers in the first round of the PCL playoffs. The first two games will take place at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City, Okla. Wednesday and Thursday, and the final three games will be played in Memphis at AutoZone Park on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
The home-and-away schedule should be an advantage for the Redbirds this postseason, unlike last year, when Memphis took home the title while playing three of five games on the road in both series.
Memphis finished 10 games up in the win column at home this season, trailing just Nashville and Oklahoma City for the best record in their home ballpark.
Heading into the playoffs, the Redbirds have had success behind their remarkable pitching staff, which has the lowest ERA (3.54) in the PCL and has surrendered 46fewer earned runs than the closest opposition.
The St. Louis Cardinals recalled Memphis pitchers Daniel Poncedeleon, John Brebbia and Tyler Webb, as well as catcher Carson Kelly since the start of the month. Major League teams' rosters expand from the usual 25-man active roster to a 40-man roster on Sept. 1. The Redbirds will be without those players at the beginning of the playoffs.
Here are the dates and game times for the Redbirds' first playoff series: