Fresh off a 3–1 series win over Vancouver, the Twin Cities River Monsters enter the FLDS riding momentum—and boasting a dominant 6–2 record against the Sacramento Mad Popes. Sacramento, rested after winning the FL Pacific, will need its elite pitching to flip the script in a best-of-seven matchup that feels like a coin toss.
Team Records & Season Stats
| Stat | Sacramento Mad Popes | Twin Cities River Monsters |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Record | 95-68 (.583), 1st FL Pacific | 101-61 (.623), 2nd FL Heartland |
| Home / Road Split | 46-35 Home / 49-33 Road | 58-23 Home / 43-38 Road |
| Versus Opponent | 2-6 (.250) vs TWC | 6-2 (.750) vs SAC |
| Runs Scored | 738 – 8th in FL | 792 – 5th in FL |
| Runs Allowed | 577 – 2nd in FL | 634 – 4th in FL |
Head-to-Head Highlights
Top River Monsters vs SAC
Raul Gallehos – .393 AVG (11-for-28), 2 HR, 3 RBI
Jerry Stone – 13.1 IP, 0.67 ERA, 6 K
Randall Gray - .321 AVG (9-for-28), 2 HR, 5 RBI
Top Mad Popes vs TWC
Mohammed bin Mus'ad – .467 AVG, 8 RBI, .767 SLG
Joe King – 8.1 IP, 2.16 ERA, 8 K
Von Alejo – 7.0 IP, 1.29 ERA, 3 K
Twin Cities not only won the season series—they controlled it. Their top starters gave Sacramento fits, and their offense outpaced a Mad Popes team that can’t afford to fall behind early in games.
X-Factors
Sacramento X-Factor: Mohammed bin Mus'ad (3B)
bin Mus'ad was one of the few Sacramento hitters to show life against Twin Cities during the regular season, hitting .467 with a .485 OBP and 8 RBI. With the Mad Popes struggling to score consistently, bin Mus'ad's ability to get on base and come through in run-producing spots will be critical. If he delivers, Sacramento’s elite pitching might be enough to carry them through.
Twin Cities X-Factor: Jerry Stone (SP)
Stone did not make any starts against Sacramento this year, but he was dominant: 13.1 IP, 0.67 ERA, 6 K. If he gets the ball in a pivotal Game 4 or Game 6, he could be the River Monsters’ secret weapon. A strong outing from him could not only steal a win but also give Twin Cities the breathing room it needs to rest the bullpen or set up Game 7 perfectly. Twin Cities is rolling with a 3-man rotation.
Prediction
This is a battle of dominance vs discipline. Twin Cities has the weapons to win this in five—but if Sacramento gets to Game 6, home-field advantage and their pitching depth could swing it back.
Prediction: Twin Cities in 7 games.
The River Monsters hold off a late Mad Popes push and escape with a hard-earned road win to clinch.
