Tyler Cravy hasn’t pitched since May 27. He returns from the DL to face the Redbirds tonight at AutoZone Park. The Sky Sox look to get the offense going after scoring in just two innings during the New Orleans series. (Bobby Stevens/MiLB.com)

The Sky Sox dropped three of four to the New Orleans Zephyrs on the first half of this eight-game road trip, enjoyed the off day in Memphis yesterday and get set to open up a four-game series against the Redbirds tonight at AutoZone Park. Game one of the series will feature RHP Tyler Cravy for the Sox and RHP Mike Mayers for the Redbirds. The Sky Sox are 13-17 away from Security Service Field and 3-3 and look to improve on the poor first half of this road trip. The Sox and ‘Birds have squared off six times in 2016 with each side taking three games. All time, the Colorado Springs is 69-80 against Memphis and 29-46 at the home of the Redbirds.

Before we dive into today’s action, the Brewers and Sky Sox announced the following transactions:

ADD: RHP Tyler Cravy reinstated from the disabled list
DEL: RHP Corey Knebel transferred to Milwaukee (end MLB rehab)
RHP Hiram Burgos placed on the disabled list (retro 6/7)

Also…this from Brewers MLB.com beat writer Adam McCalvy:

We’ll have to wait and see when that becomes an official transaction, but it will be GREAT to see Hader in a Sky Sox uniform soon!

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Today’s Game Notes / Listen Live at 5:30 MDT / Lineups 

Colorado Springs Sky Sox (26-28) at Memphis Redbirds (23-33) – 6:05 p.m. – AutoZone Park – Memphis, Tennessee

Pitching Matchup: RHP Tyler Cravy (1-3, 3.92) at RHP Mike Mayers (1-1, 2.45)

Sky Sox Pitcher: RHP Tyler Cravy has hopped off the disabled list and will make his 6th appearance (4th start) with the Sky Sox tonight in Memphis. The righty is 1-1 with a 3.92 ERA across his first five outings with Colorado Springs. In 20 2/3 innings he’s allowed 11 runs (9 earned) on 15 hits, 9 walks, and 22 strikeouts. Opponents are hitting .197 against the California native.  He has gone five innings in each of his last two outings and allowed 6 runs (5 earned), on 7 hits, 6 walks, and 10 strikeouts over the 10 frames. Cravy earned the win in the latter of the two outings. He went on the DL following his May 27 start with a blister on his throwing hand. The righty is 1-0 with a 2.87 ERA in four road outings this season. He has made two stints with the Brewers in 2016 as well, over which he is 0-1 with a 6.52 ERA in 9 2/3 innings of work. Overall in his career, Cravy has a 36-30 record with 3 saves and a 3.73 ERA in the minors and a 0-9 record with a 5.85 ERA in 20 big-league games. He was drafted by Milwaukee in the 17th round of the 2009 draft out of Napa Valley College.

Last Time Out: 5/27/16 at Fresno – Cravy was helped out immensely by his offense and cruised to the win his last time out against the Grizzlies. The righty went 5 innings and allowed 2 runs (1 earned) on 2 hits, 3 walks, and 5 strikeouts. He threw 72 pitches, 42 for strikes, before handing things over to Brent Suter in a game the Sky Sox won 17-4, thanks in part to two grand slams.

2016 Game Log with the Sky Sox:

Redbirds Pitcher: RHP Mike Mayers will make his 12 start of 2016, but just the third with the Triple-A ball club. The righty is 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA through his first 11-AAA innings of 2016 following his call up from Double-A Springfield where he went 5-2 with a 2.30 ERA in 9 starts. In the 11 Triple-A innings he had allowed 5 runs (3 earned) on 9 hits, 4 walks, 11 strikeouts and has held opponents to a .220 batting average. With Springfield he allowed 17 runs (14 earned) on 47 hits, 17 walks, 43 strikouts, held opponents to a .229 batting average in 54 2/3 innings. Tonight marks the fourth start with Memphis for Mayers in his young career. The Grove City, Ohio native attended Mississippi and was selected by the Cardinals in the third round of the 2013 draft out of that fine baseball institution. In his brief professional career, Mayers is 17-22 with a 3.55 ERA in 59 minor-league games, 57 starts.

Last Time Out: 6/3/2016 vs. New Orleans –  Mayers took the loss against the Zephyrs his laast time out, allowing 4 runs (2 earned) on 4 hits, 2 walks, and 7 strikeouts. He threw 92 pitches, 61 for strikes in the Redbirds’ 5-1 loss. This will be the first time the righty has made back-to-back Triple-A outings.

Last 10 Outings w/Springfield and Memphis –

Dan Karcher (@SkySoxKarch) continues his 27^th season behind the mic for Sky Sox games, he will have the call of tonight’s game from AutoZone Park at 6:05 p.m. I’ll get Sky Sox Warmup all fired up at 5:30 MDT on XTRA Sports 1300.

Thanks for reading – See you on the radio,

Dan

@Dan_Acheson