The Louisville Bats finally conclude a long 12 game road trip today in Indianapolis before returning to Louisville for the start of an eight game home stand. Louisville has struggled mightily on this road trip and currently sit at 10-20 on the season.
April Showers
The Bats concluded the month of April with a record of 9-16. That is their worst start to the season since 2010. That year, the Bats set a franchise record with a 22-6 month of July en route to a third straight division championship. This is also the Bats sixth losing record in the month of April since 2004. The Bats have not played a winning month of baseball since April of last year.
No May flowers
The Bats are 1-4 in the month of May. They lost three of four to Durham and were shutout Saturday by Indianapolis 4-0. Louisville’s 10-20 record is the worst in the International League and they’re currently nine games back of the West Division leading Toledo Mud Hens.
No bats for Bats
Louisville’s offense has continued to struggle mightily this year. Their combined batting average of .231 is second-to-last in the league and they have struck out a league leading 260 times. Louisville also has the second worst team on base percentage in the league at .307.
Injury bug
Part of the Bats most recent struggle offensively has been the loss of a couple of key guys. Paul Janish was placed on the disabled list April 30 with a fracture in his left wrist. Janish was off to an outstanding start at the plate, hitting .315/.390/.521 in 23 games. Currently, he is the only Bats player who has played in more than 10 games with a batting average over .300. The next closest is Corky Miller at .296.
The Bats also lost catcher Dioner Navarro on May 1. Navarro was placed on the DL with kidney stones. After starting the season 0-for-14 at the plate, Navarro has raised his batting average to .282 with a homer and nine runs batted in. Seven of those RBI came over his last ten games before going on the shelf.
Home sweet home
The Bats return home Monday after an afternoon tilt with the Indianapolis Indians Sunday. The Bats will play host to the Norfolk Tides for four and the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs for four. The Bats have won just one series all year and, if they plan to get back into the playoff hunt, must win both home series before heading back out on the road.
