Following its second shutout in three games, Chatham returns home after a two-game road stint with a matchup against Wareham. 

Against the Mariners, the A’s mustered just four hits and never got a runner past second. In one stretch, Chatham batters were retired 19 consecutive times, courtesy of Harwich’s starting pitcher, Connor McCullough. 

Wareham is coming off its largest victory of the season, a 13-2 bombardment over Yarmouth-Dennis. Seven different hitters recorded RBIs and Gatemen pitching allowed four hits in the ballgame.

On Tuesday, the Anglers broke a 10-game winning streak against the Mariners. On Wednesday, they’ll look to break another 10-game streak, this one a losing stretch spanning back to 2017 against the Gatemen.

Probable pitchers

Cole Ayers (State College of Florida) will get the start for Chatham. The 6-foot-2 right-hander is coming off his first decision of the season, a five inning, one run effort that led to an 8-7 victory. He comes into Wednesday with a 3.14 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 14.1 innings of work.

Mason Hazelwood (Kentucky) is expected to come in relief. Hazelwood has been one of the A’s most consistent relievers, even after coming off a two-run, two inning game against Falmouth on Friday. The left-handed pitcher has 22 strikeouts in 13.2 innings. 

Right-hander Ian Bedell (Missouri) will be on the mound to begin the game for the Gatemen. Bedell has only allowed two runs all season, both coming in his last appearance against Orleans on July 5. In his first start of the season, he dominated Chatham through 4.2 innings, allowing three hits and recording six strikeouts. 

Players to watch

Dawson Merryman (Texas) hasn’t pitched in four days and he’s been Chatham’s closer this season. The side-arm pitcher has a 1.12 ERA through eight innings this season. He’s also fanned at least one batter in seven of his nine outings. 

Jorge Arenas (Stetson) is hitting .375 in the last seven days for Chatham. In 16 at-bats, the infielder has six hits and three RBIs. Arenas, like the rest of the A’s, struggled against Harwich on Tuesday — he went 0-for-3 with a strikeout.

Stat to know — 730

Chatham has not defeated Wareham in 730 days. Wednesday will mark two years exactly since the last time the Anglers won against the Gatemen.

Last time they played

Wareham blasted seven runs in the first three innings the last time the two played. The Gatemen defeated Chatham, 7-4, at Veterans Field.