Sea Dogs in playoff hunt entering last week of regular season
Before the season began, the Portland Sea Dogs were rated by Baseball America as the second most talented team in all of minor league baseball. Since that point, the names on the Sea Dogs roster have drastically changed, though what hasn’t changed is the persistent pursuit for a playoff spot.
Entering play on Tuesday, the Sea Dogs have a 1.5 game lead over the Somerset Patriots. It’s been a rollercoaster of a season, as the minor league season can be. From late July to mid August, the Sea Dogs went on a scorching 20-2 run that propelled them to be firmly in the mix for the last available playoff spot.
The Eastern League format is drastically different than how the MLB season looks. The two teams that have the top winning percentage and sit atop of their respective conferences in the Eastern League standings at the half way point of the season get the first seed and are guaranteed to host the first playoff series. Whoever has the top winning percentage in the second half of the season gets the respective third and fourth playoff spots.
In the first half of the season, the first half lead came down to the final few games with the Sea Dogs in the mix, though ultimately ended up going to the Hartford Yard Goats.
Tonight, the Sea Dogs take on the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, the beginning of a six game series that will decide their season. Wikelman Gonzalez is the starting pitcher for tonight’s 6:00 PM first pitch at Hadlock Field.
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