FOND DU LAC, WI – The Fond du Lac Dock Spiders (34-33, 15-18) look to break their four-game losing streak against the Lakeshore Chinooks (33-34, 15-16), who sit one game behind the Dock Spiders in a three-team race for the final playoff spot. Tonight is the final Bang For Your Buck presented by Brew Pub Pizza. Fans can enjoy hot dogs, Brew Pub Pizza slices, 16 oz. Pepsi products, and 16 oz. domestic beers (for those of legal drinking age) for $2 each. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m, with coverage beginning at 6:30 p.m. on the Northwoods League Baseball Network.

TODAY’S STORYLINES

FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME: Today’s meeting between the Chinooks and Dock Spiders marks the first match-up between the two teams since July 15, 2022, at Herr-Baker Field, 26 days ago… Entering today, the Dock Spiders have lost three of four second-half match-ups with the Chinooks, and have been outscored 26-15 over that span… Since their last meeting, the Chinooks have gone 8-13, including being swept by the Wausau Woodchucks in a three-game series entering today… The Dock Spiders, meanwhile, have gone 11-11 over that span.

THE FINAL STRETCH: After a four-game road trip, the Dock Spiders will play three of their final four games at Herr-Baker Field… At Herr-Baker Field this year, the Dock Spiders are 16-16 and have won five of their last six at home… The offense has been a big part of the home slate, as the Dock Spiders average 7.6 runs per game at home, compared to 7.0 on the road… The Dock Spiders have also set the franchise record for the most home runs hit at home in a single year with 18, surpassing the previous record of 14 set during the inaugural 2017 season.

SOJKA’S BIG WEEK: Dock Spiders OF Andrew Sojka continued his tear at the plate with a two-run home run on Tuesday night at Wisconsin Rapids… Sojka’s seven home runs are the most by any Dock Spider this year, and the most in a single season since 1B Tim Elko hit eight during the 2020 season… Sojka is one of 22 different Northwoods League hitters to tally at least seven home runs this year but is one of two to reach the mark in under 30 games (OF Chase Hug, WAU – 9).

THE ROSTER SHUFFLE: In the past week, the Dock Spiders have added 10 new players to the roster… This season, the Dock Spiders have had 77 different players on the roster in 68 games… The 77 players mark the most ever used in a single season by the Dock Spiders, breaking the previous record of 65 set during the COVID-shortened 2020 season.

• Of the 77 players, 46 have made at least one appearance on the mound, led by RHP Garner Spoljaric with 17… 24 of the 46 (52%) have made less than five appearances.
• 36 different players have tallied at least one plate appearance, with 14 (39%) tallying more than 100 plate appearances.

PATH TO THE PLAYOFFS: If the season ended today, the Dock Spiders would miss the playoffs… They sit two games behind the Wausau Woodchucks with four games remaining… If the Dock Spiders and Woodchucks end the season tied, the Dock Spiders own the head-to-head tiebreaker… The elimination number for the Dock Spiders is four, meaning that any combination of Wausau wins and Fond du Lac losses that equal four would clinch a playoff spot for the Woodchucks.

TODAY’S STARTING PITCHING MATCH-UP

RHP JAKE KAMPF (FDL) makes his second start of the summer for the Dock Spiders after he committed to SIU-Edwardsville for the 2022/23 academic year last week… Kampf’s last start came during the Dock Spiders wild 10-run comeback against the Battle Creek Battle Jacks on August 1.

RHP JACKSON REID (LAK) is set to make his 15th appearance of the summer and his third start… Over his last six appearances, Reid owns a 0.53 ERA, allowing three runs in 17 innings.