Dodgers: The Quakes, Drillers, and OKC Dodgers Set for the Playoffs

The Dodgers are currently in a battle for their sixth straight NL West title.  Impressively, the Dodgers’ three main minor league teams made the playoffs this season.

The Dodgers are an organization that is stocked with talent throughout the organization.  There is no better indicator for this than the fact that the OKC Dodgers, Tulsa Drillers, and Ranch Cucamonga Quakes all qualified for the playoffs this season.  While the LA Dodgers still battle to punch their playoff ticket, the other three minor league clubs begin their postseason on Wednesday.

The first round of the minor league postseason is a five-game series.  The format for the minor leagues is interesting as the series is split 2-3 in terms of home field advantage.  The OKC Dodgers will start with two home games and then three potential home games against the Memphis Redbirds.

The Drillers and Quakes will start their postseason series on the road followed by three potential home games.  The Drillers will play the Arkansas Travelers while the Quakes will face off with the Lancaster JetHawks.  The OKC Dodgers have not yet named a starter while the Drillers will throw out Tony Gonsolin, and the Quakes are starting Leo Crawford.

The OKC Dodgers have seen their roster deplete right before the postseason as the LA Dodgers have recalled Alex Verdugo, Andrew Toles, Tim Locastro, and Kyle Farmer amongst others.  The OKC Dodgers had no problem rallying for their playoff berth on Sunday and Monday without the called up players so they are a resilient group.

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The Tulsa Drillers will send Tony Gonsolin out for the first game of their playoff series.  Gonsolin has had a breakout season putting up a 2.60 ERA and a 10-2 record across 26 starts with the Quakes and Drillers.  Gonsolin has also struck out 155 batters in only 128 innings and has thrown his name into the hat of the next top Dodger pitching prospects.

The Quakes will throw out 21-year-old left-hander Leo Crawford in game one and all Crawford has done is go 8-0 with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.  Crawford is also on a nice four-game streak of starts in which he has gone at least six innings and allowed no more than three earned runs.

Offensively the OKC Dodgers will need to rely on Edwin Rios and Donovan Solano to help get the depleted OKC roster going.  Solano has hit well all season and Rios is a big masher who is capable of going on a power surge.  Solano hit over .320 this season and was one of the most consistent hitters in the minor leagues.

The Drillers are led by top prospects Gavin Lux and DJ Peters while the Quakes is loaded with power with Cristian Santana, Jared Walker, Cody Thomas, Carlos Rincon, and Jeren Kendall among others.  Then there is Connor Wong who has displayed surprising pop during his first full season in the minors.