Let’s be honest. There’s no place like home.
Returning to LMCU Ballpark after a 12-game road trip, the West Michigan Whitecaps welcomed in-state rival, the Lansing Lugnuts, for a six-game homestand. In typical fashion, the Lansing and West Michigan rivalry did not disappoint.
GAME 1 Final Score: 2-0:
Looking to hold onto their immaculate record on home turf, West Michigan turned to lefty Andrew Sears, and Sears put on a masterclass. The 22-year-old worked five scoreless frames for West Michigan, walking one, striking out six, and not allowing a hit. In turn, Lansing’s pitching held the Whitecaps to just two runs off nine hits. Max Clark posted the only multi-hit campaign, finishing 2-for-4 with a run, an RBI, and his fifth double of the year. West Michigan pitching combined for 10 strikeouts and only one walk, and two hits allowed over nine shutout innings in the Whitecaps’ victory.
Josue Briceño credited with a triple on this play, but he’s thrown out after…stuff happens. @wangler_nathan calls it. pic.twitter.com/ceUFDFWeIS
— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) May 6, 2025
GAME 2 Final Score: 3-1:
Lansing looked to A’s 2024 CB-B pick, lefty Gage Jump in game two, and the West Michigan lineup was in for a challenge. Jump toed the line of a complete game, working eight innings for the Lugnuts, striking out eight and only allowing one earned run. West Michigan was held to 5-for-32 offensively, with two of the five hits coming as doubles from Peyton Graham and Brett Callahan. Jump’s campaign forced West Michigan into its first loss at home since the start of the regular season.
Max Clark gets his batting average over .300 off Midwest League strikeout leader Gage Jump, taking a single the other way. pic.twitter.com/hUXHC2MTZQ
— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) May 7, 2025
GAME 3 Final Score: 4-2:
Coming off their game two win, the Lansing lineup came ready to play against West Michigan’s 20-year-old starter Rayner Castillo and the West Michigan defense. The Lugnuts tagged Castillo for four runs, three of which were earned, off seven hits allowed in 4 2/3 innings. Despite the challenges West Michigan faced on both sides of the ball, infielder Andrew Jenkins had himself a night at the plate, finishing 3-for-4 with a run and a double for the Whitecaps. Jenkins’ three hits contributed to the seven overall for West Michigan. But that proved not to be enough to overcome the Lugnuts and forced a second straight loss.
Bennett Lee rips an RBI single to left to tie the game for the Whitecaps. @ThatDanHasty calls it. pic.twitter.com/U3S2PyXSmb
— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) May 8, 2025
GAME 4 Final Score: 7-6:
If there’s one thing to know about the West Michigan Whitecaps, it’s that they don’t like losing. This was proven in Max Clark sending the very first pitch of the game out for his second home run of the year, but if that wasn’t fun enough, Jack Penney made it back-to-back with his first home run of the season. Andrew Jenkins was at it again, posting his second consecutive three-hit night alongside Max Clark, who generated a three-hit night of his own. The steadily progressing Izaac Pacheco finished 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and a pair of RBI, as the Whitecaps powered their way to a game four win to even up the series.
101 MPH off the bat. Home run number six for #Tigers Josue Briceño. pic.twitter.com/i3CSeJLJoX
— Emily Waldon (@EmilyCWaldon) May 10, 2025
GAME 5 Final Score: 6-3:
In game five, it was once again Max Clark and Andrew Jenkins steering the West Michigan offense with multi-hit nights, alongside Abel Bastidas with his fourth multi-hit game of the season. Behind 10 hits overall for the West Michigan offense, Whitecaps knuckleballer Kenny Serwa picked up his second win of the year in relief, holding Lansing to one run off four hits in 3 1/3 innings on the day.
Final line for #Tigers Kenny Serwa:
Final line for #Tigers Kenny Serwa:
▶️ 3.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 4 K
68 pitches (45 for strikes) pic.twitter.com/mZlAuhTt3u— Emily Waldon (@EmilyCWaldon) May 10, 2025
GAME 6 Final Score: 6-2:
Another strong outing from West Michigan lefty Andrew Sears, combined with an explosive day for Whitecaps infielder Jack Penney, made for an eventful Mother’s Day series finale. Penney, 22, generated his first three-hit game of the season, including his second home run in three games. Izaac Pacheco posted another multi-hit day, marking the fifth of seven games to hit successfully. 22-year-old reliever Preston Howey moved to 4-1 on the year with a pair of scoreless innings to close out the series with a win.
Jack Penney launches a 2-run homer deep down the left field line to put the Whitecaps up 2-0. It’s his 2nd home run of the week and his 3rd of the year. @ThatDanHasty calls it. pic.twitter.com/gcdYml3JmW
— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) May 11, 2025
Up Next: Tonight, West Michigan is back on the road, this time at Parkview Field in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The Whitecaps will work a six-game series against the Tincaps before returning home to face the Great Lakes Loons at LMCU Ballpark next week.
Pitcher of the Week: LHP Micah Ashman
Since his selection as the Tigers’ 11th-round pick in the 2024 MLB draft, we’re starting to see that there is a lot more that stands out about Micah Ashman than just his 6’7 frame. The 22-year-old lefty had a bit of a rocky start with Class-A Lakeland last season, posting a 4.26 ERA over five appearances, but since his move to West Michigan, Ashman has been fluid. Over 10 appearances with the Whitecaps this season, Ashman has allowed three runs, but only one earned over 16 1/3 innings and has not allowed a run in his last five consecutive appearances.
Player of the Week: INF Andrew Jenkins
“When you need a hit in a tight spot, Jenk is the guy you want at the plate,” one teammate said. “He just seems to understand the assignment.”
Selected in the ninth round of the 2022 MLB draft out of Georgia Tech, Andrew Jenkins has been nothing but “clutch” this season, according to both coaches and teammates. Over the last three games against the Lugnuts, Jenkins posted three straight multi-hit games, including back-to-back three-hit campaigns for the Whitecaps. Able to hit for power, Jenkins has already tied his single-season career-high in home runs in half the time, compared to last season, and is currently pacing for career-high numbers in almost every offensive category.
Whitecap to Watch: INF Jack Penney
When it comes to Jack Penney’s style of play, he’s going to let his work speak louder than he will. The 22-year-old Notre Dame product has successfully flown off the radar to start the year, despite posting some strong offensive numbers, but if you know Jack, that’s just his style. Offensively, there isn’t anything quiet about the way Penney operates. The middle infielder has hit successfully in 13 of his last 15 games, including a 10-game hit streak. Against the Lugnuts in the series finale, Penney was electric, finishing 3-for-4 with a pair of runs, a home run, and three RBI. It marked Penney’s second home run in three games.
Week Six Notes: Kevin McGonigle began a rehab assignment with Class-A Lakeland. McGonigle, 20, has been out of commission since suffering an ankle sprain in the West Michigan Opener on April 4. In his first rehab outing, McGonigle finished 1-for-2 with a walk, a double, and a run scored.
Rogelio Castillo 
Joe Rampe