CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (Interstat) — The Springfield Cardinals open a six-game series against the Corpus Christi Hooks on Tuesday night at Whataburger Field, where clear skies and 88-degree temperatures are expected for first pitch.

Springfield brings a 69-56 record and has won 10 of its past 11 games. Corpus Christi is 59-68 and has lost three straight. The Cardinals won four of six meetings earlier this season in Springfield, outscoring the Hooks in the season series.

Trey Dombroski (2-5) is the scheduled starter for Springfield. He will look to steady a Cardinals rotation that has received strong recent contributions from several pitchers.

One Springfield player to watch is Yhoiker Fajardo, who has won his last three starts. In his most recent outing Sunday against San Antonio, Fajardo threw five innings, allowing six hits and one earned run while striking out three in Springfield’s 8-6 win. He also allowed one earned run over six innings in an Aug. 18 win at Arkansas and threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings against Northwest Arkansas on Aug. 12.

Corpus Christi will look to Tyler Whitaker for production from the lineup. Whitaker went 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs in Sunday’s 7-5 loss at Amarillo. In his last 10 games, however, he is 6-for-31 with four RBIs.

Springfield enters the series after an 8-6 home win Sunday over San Antonio. Fajardo starred on the mound, while Jack Gurevitch went 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs. Corpus Christi, meanwhile, is coming off a 7-5 loss in Amarillo, where Whitaker provided most of the offense.

Interstat’s game simulator projects an 8-4 Springfield victory, and Interstat’s ELO system gives the Cardinals a 61.5 percent probability of winning.

After Tuesday, the teams will play five more games at Whataburger Field through Sunday. Springfield then returns home for six games beginning Sept. 8, while Corpus Christi travels to Midland for six games.

The Cardinals have been the more consistent team this season, both in the standings and in recent form. Dombroski will try to give Springfield a strong start as it aims to extend its series-opening momentum against a Hooks club seeking to reverse a late-season slide.