IL Playoff Preview: 9/26

The Norfolk Tides will open the International League Playoffs tonight at 6:35 pm versus the Durham Bulls at Harbor Park in Virginia. Norfolk held a 15-6 overall record in games against the Bulls and went 9-3 in games played in Norfolk.

Tonight’s game has a pitching match-up between Bruce Zimmermann (Tides) and Cooper Criswell (Bulls). Zimmermann has a 0-1 record against Durham in ’23 while Criswell has a 1-1 record against Norfolk.

Norfolk batters to watch:

Joey Ortiz: .321/ .378/ .507

Colton Cowser: .300/ .417/ .520

Shayne Fontana: .279/ .382/ .416

Who’s HOT: Coby Mayo .359/ .490/ .590 with 2 HR, 11 R, 8 RBI over the last 10 games

Durham batters to watch:

Austin Shenton: .301/ .432/ .603

Ronny Simon: .282/ .380/ .427

Evan Edwards: .273/ .405/ .424

Who’s HOT: Shenton .267/ .522/ .467 with 2 HR, 9 R, 4 RBI over the last 10 games