Semi-Final Preview: Jackfish vs Majors

Written by: Evan Frederiksen / Photo By Mason Dawdy

Postseason baseball has arrived in the CBL, and with so much at stake, the margin for error is smaller than ever. The London Majors and Welland Jackfish are set to battle it out in a best-of-seven semifinal series, but what can we expect when these two teams take the field?

These two teams are certainly familiar with each other, having faced off six times during the regular season, with London winning four of those six matchups. That history should make for an intriguing semifinal series, especially when you look at how closely these two offences stack up.

Both offences are among the best in the CBL. The Jackfish led the league in runs scored while hitting just 52 home runs. As for the Majors, they scored the fourth-most runs in the league while leading the CBL with 73 home runs. London was also the only team to have four players hit 10 or more home runs during the regular season.

It will be interesting to see if the long ball will be a primary weapon for either squad early in this series, because scoring first will be especially important in a best-of-seven matchup. One thing the Jackfish have done all season that has become an underrated part of their offence is their ability to create pressure on the basepaths. Welland led the league with 152 stolen bases and has seven players who recorded 10 or more steals during the regular season. That kind of speed can change an inning in a hurry, putting runners in scoring position without needing an extra-base hit and forcing opposing pitchers and catchers to constantly keep an eye on the bases.

The Majors, however, have their own weapon to help solve that problem, and his name is Eduardo De Oleo. De Oleo had a terrific season behind the plate, recording 37 assists while consistently displaying one of, if not the best, catcher’s arms in the CBL. His ability to control the running game and make accurate throws down to second could be a major factor in this series. If the Jackfish are unable to take advantage of their speed, it could take away one of the biggest weapons that has helped make their offence so dangerous throughout the regular season.

As for the pitching side of things, both teams enter the series with remarkably similar pitching staffs. London finished the regular season with a team ERA of 4.27 and a 1.33 WHIP, while Welland was right behind them with a 4.30 ERA and 1.37 WHIP. On paper, there is very little separating the two staffs, which could make the battle on the mound one of the biggest storylines of the series.

Where London could have a slight advantage, however, is in the bullpen. The Majors’ bullpen was arguably the best in the CBL throughout the regular season, giving London a reliable group of arms to turn to when games enter the late innings. In a playoff series where one swing of the bat can change everything, having a bullpen capable of protecting leads and keeping games within reach could prove to be a major difference-maker.

Overall, these two teams are the definition of complete ball clubs. Both can hit for power, create offence in different ways, play strong defence and rely on pitching staffs capable of keeping games close. With a spot in the CBL Championship Series on the line, this semifinal matchup has all the ingredients for a highly competitive series that could go down to the wire.