Preview: Unbeaten Oklahoma City Comets Visit Las Vegas Aviators in Early-Season Showdown

LAS VEGAS (Interstat) — Two of the Pacific Coast League’s hottest teams will meet Tuesday when the undefeated Oklahoma City Comets open a six-game series against the perfect Las Vegas Aviators at Cashman Field.

Both clubs enter Tuesday’s contest at 2-0 after sweeping their opening series. Oklahoma City overpowered the Albuquerque Isotopes by a combined score of 26-10, while Las Vegas dispatched the Salt Lake Bees, outscoring them 19-5.

The Comets will send left-hander Gage Jump to the mound. Jump owns a season record of wins and losses. He will face a Las Vegas lineup that has produced 13 runs in a game already this season.

All eyes will be on Oklahoma City right fielder James Tibbs III, who is off to a torrid start. In Sunday’s 13-4 win over Albuquerque, Tibbs went 3 for 4 with two home runs and five RBIs. In the two-game set, he drove in eight runs.

Las Vegas will counter with right-hander Mason Barnett, who delivered a strong outing in Sunday’s 6-1 victory over Salt Lake. Barnett pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing one earned run on five hits while striking out four.

The Aviators’ bullpen was dominant in support, with Yunior Tur and others combining for 3 1/3 scoreless innings Sunday. Offensively, Cade Marlowe contributed two RBIs in the win.

Oklahoma City’s lineup features multiple threats. Alongside Tibbs, catcher Seby Zavala homered and drove in two runs Sunday, and third baseman Ryan Fitzgerald added three RBIs in the series finale.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, Tuesday’s contest projects to be a high-scoring affair, with a predicted final score of Oklahoma City 8, Las Vegas 7.

Following Tuesday’s series opener, the teams will play five more games through Sunday in Las Vegas. The Comets then return home to face the Round Rock Express, while the Aviators hit the road for a series against the Sacramento River Cats.