Series Preview: At Peoria

Tonight the Kernels begin their longest road trip of the season. It's a nine game trip to Peoria, Bowling Green, and Dayton. First up, it's the Peoria Chiefs. We'll have night games on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

Cedar Rapids Kernels 6-4 (MWL affiliate Los Angeles Angels)

Peoria Chiefs 4-6 (MWL affiliate Chicago Cubs)

PROBABLE PITCHERS:

MONDAY AT 6:30 P.M

CR: RHP Austin Wood (2-0, 0.90) vs. PEO: RHP Michael Jensen (2-0, 2.45)

Wood has dominated in his first two starts. At Wisconsin on April 5, he struck out 10 over five innings while allowing one run. He also went five innings vs. Clinton last Wednesday and did not allow a hit or run. He currently has a 5:1 strikeout to walk ratio. Jensen picked up wins at Beloit and at home vs. Quad Cities. On April 5 at Beloit he went five innings and allowed no runs on two hits. His previous start was last Wednesday vs. Quad Cities as he went six innings and allowed three runs on five hits.

TUESDAY AT 6:30 P.M.

CR: RHP Michael Clevinger (0-0, 2.77) vs. PEO: P.J. Francescon (0-1, 3.48)

Clevinger has gone at least six innings in both of his two starts this season. He went six innings at Wisconsin on April 6, allowing one run on four hits. He went seven innings vs. Quad Cities last Thursday, allowing three runs on five hits. Francescon started April 6 at Beloit, going 4.2 innings and allowing one run on two hits. He took the loss last Thursday at Wisconsin, going 5.2 innings and allowing three runs on six hits.

WEDNESDAY AT 6:30 P.M..

CR: LHP Ryan Crowley (0-1, 5.00) vs. PEO: RHP Jose Rosario (1-1, 5.23)

Crowley went four innings in his first start on April 7 at Wisconsin, allowing one run on five hits. His last start was Friday vs. Quad Cities. He took the loss, going five innings and allowing four runs on seven hits. Rosario picked up the win at Beloit on April 7 as he went 5.1 innings and allowed two runs on two hits. He picked up the loss last Friday at Wisconsin as he went five innings and allowed four runs on seven hits.

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Austin Wood, SP, CR: Wood is ranked as the #24 prospect in the Angels organization. He will get the start Monday.

Michael Clevinger, SP, CR: Clevinger is ranked as the #16 prospect in the Angels organization. He will start on Tuesday.

Kaleb Cowart, 3B, CR: Cowart is ranked as the #6 prospect in the Angels organization. Cowart leads the Kernels with a .359 batting average. In his last five games he has six runs batted in, including his first home run of the season.

Zeke DeVoss, IF, PEO: The switch hitting infielder has great speed as in ranked as the #14 prospect in the Cubs organization. DeVoss has seven runs batted in through the Chiefs first 10 games

Marco Hernandez, IF, PEO: Hernandez is ranked as the #16 prospect in the Cubs organization. Hernandez has struggled so far this season, hitting .139 through his first nine games.

Reggie Golden, OF, PEO: Golden is ranked as the #17 prospect in the Cubs organization. Like Hernandez, Golden has struggled thus far and is hitting .192 through seven games.

Jose Rosario, SP, PEO: Rosario is ranked as the #22 prospect in the Cubs organization. He will pitch on Wednesday night.

Taiwan Easterling, OF, PEO: The former Florida State football player is ranked as the #28 prospect in the Cubs organization. He played in 40 games with Peoria in 2011, hitting .277. Easterling has been sluggish out of the gates as the outfielder has only two hits in 23 at bats.

Rafael Lopez, C, PEO: Lopez is hitting .360 on the season through his first seven games.

By: Morgan Hawk, Kernels radio broadcaster