Preview: Portland Pilots at Seattle Redhawks

BELLEVUE, Wash. (Interstat) — The surging Portland Pilots look to continue their strong season when they visit the struggling Seattle Redhawks in an afternoon game Saturday at Bannerwood Park.

First pitch is set for 4 p.m. under cloudy skies with a temperature near 54 degrees.

Portland (18-9) enters with the momentum of a successful March, having won eight of its last ten games. Seattle (6-18) seeks to build on its most impressive victory of the season, a 5-1 win over these same Pilots on Thursday.

That game was dominated by Seattle right-hander Travis Farrell, who threw a complete-game six-hitter, allowing one earned run while striking out 10. He will be a player to watch again for the Redhawks.

For Portland, two-way standout Trey Swygart is the key figure. In Thursday’s loss, he was brilliant in relief, throwing four hitless innings with six strikeouts. At the plate this season, he carries a five-game hitting streak into Saturday’s contest.

The teams opened their three-game series Friday afternoon with Seattle earning a second straight win, shutting out Portland.

Despite the recent results, statistical models heavily favor the Pilots. Interstat’s game simulator projects a 7-3 Portland victory, and its ELO rating system gives the Pilots a 75.40% probability to win.

Following the series finale, Portland will host Oregon on Wednesday. Seattle begins a three-game home series against Loyola Marymount next Friday.