With a first-half playoff berth secured, the West Michigan Whitecaps welcomed the Brewers’ High-A affiliate, the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers to LMCU Ballpark to usher in the second half.
Wrapping up the first half with a Midwest League best 44-21 record, the Whitecaps marked their best first half performance since 1997 and took the Midwest League East Division by a lead of eight and a half games.
Taking nine of their last 11 games, at the conclusion of their series with the Timber Rattlers, the Whitecaps moved to 3-0 in the second half, maintaining their control of the Midwest League East Division.
GAME 1 – Wisconsin: 10, West Michigan: 2
When asked to describe the vibe of the first game of the series, one West Michigan player said, “It just felt off. Hard to explain, but we just couldn’t find the rhythm we usually do.”
The West Michigan offense combined for four hits, including a home run from Austin Murr, his first of the year and a double for Kevin McGonigle. On Tigers’ rehab assignment, Alex Lange started the night for the Whitecaps, working one scoreless inning off 13 pitches with seven for strikes. A challenging night for the West Michigan bullpen resulted in 10 runs allowed, nine of which were earned and without the run support of a usually strong offense, West Michigan fell short, dropping their first campaign against Wisconsin.
Max Clark with a nice sprawling grab in center to end the top of the 9th. pic.twitter.com/xu2fvPOfsR
— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) June 18, 2025
GAME 2 – CANCELED/ Inclement Weather
GAME 3 – West Michigan: 5, Wisconsin: 2
Coming off a day’s rest, thanks to Mother Nature, it was lefty Andrew Sears who took the hill for the Whitecaps. The 22-year-old allowed a pair of earned runs over five frames, while walking one and striking out three. The Bash Brothers made a return for the Whitecaps, posting the Midwest League-best 14th home run for Josue Briceño and the fourth home run of the year for Kevin McGonigle. Izaac Pacheco and Josue Briceño combined for four of the Whitecaps’ 10 hits on the night, while also marking Pacheco’s 14th multi-hit game of the season and the ninth on the year for Briceño. With the help of a double from Patrick Lee and a triple from John Peck, West Michigan was able to even out the series with a victory.
Josue Briceño launches his 14th home run of the season. @ThatDanHasty on the call. pic.twitter.com/hkJeZArODY
— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) June 19, 2025
GAME 4 – West Michigan: 5, Wisconsin: 2
20-year-old Rayner Castillo was the arm of choice for the Whitecaps on Friday, giving the youngster another opportunity to continue applying the lessons he’s been working to learn this season. Standing at 6’3, 180 pounds, the Dominican native carries a natural dominance to his approach, but at 20 years old, there’s still some rough edges to polish off. Castillo did not disappoint, booking 5 2/3 scoreless frames, walking one and striking out four for the Whitecaps. Offensively, Izaac Pacheco contributed his 15th multi-hit game of the season, while Kevin McGonigle, as he’s become known for doing all season added a double…shocking, I know, his 17th on the year. Luke Gold punched his fourth home run of the season and stolen bases from Max Clark and Patrick Lee all tied together nicely for another West Michigan win.
17 doubles on the year for #Tigers Kevin McGonigle. pic.twitter.com/RYHIRrN3ak
— Emily Waldon (@EmilyCWaldon) June 20, 2025
GAME 5 – West Michigan: 4, Wisconsin: 1
West Michigan welcomed back Tigers’ rehabber Alex Lange to the mound on Saturday to work another inning against the Timber Rattlers. Lange allowed one run off a pair of hits, while striking out two. Enter Whitecaps’ lefty Joe Miller, who worked a gem in support of Lange. Miller, 25 worked six scoreless frames for West Michigan, allowing three hits, walking two and striking out eight, one shy of his single-game career-high. Combining for seven hits on the night, including multi-hit games from Peyton Graham and Max Clark, the Whitecaps made it a point to stay busy on the base path with stolen bases from Austin Murr and two a piece from Peyton Graham and Seth Stephenson, marking 19 on the year overall for Stephenson. With the strong work by Miller and resurgence of the West Michigan offense, the Whitecaps secured their third straight win against Wisconsin.
Boy, did he need this. #Tigers Max Clark is 2-for-4 tonight. pic.twitter.com/23K7IK2VrP
— Emily Waldon (@EmilyCWaldon) June 22, 2025
GAME 6 – West Michigan: 5, Wisconsin: 3
Playing in a very uncharacteristic 95-degree West Michigan afternoon, the home runs for the Whitecaps ran about as plentiful as the refills for the dugout coolers. Four words to describe the day?
Welcome. Back. Max. Clark.
The 20-year-old posted his second consecutive multi-hit day, including his fifth home run on the year, two runs scored and his 39th overall RBI. Not one to miss out on the fun, Kevin McGonigle matched pace with his fifth home run of the season and a pair of RBI to mark 28 total on the year. John Peck, who is currently hitting .328 with a .522 slugging percentage for the month of June added his sixth home run of the year for the Whitecaps, along with his 37th RBI overall. Tigers’ rehabbing arm Sean Guenther made a one-inning appearance for West Michigan, allowing one run and striking out one, but it was two strong frames from 6’5 lefty Joe Adametz, striking out four without a run allowed that would secure the series win for West Michigan and the first Save of the year for the 25-year-old Adametz.
HOME RUN. MAX CLARK.
No. 5 on the year. pic.twitter.com/SMFFB3FhIF
— Emily Waldon (@EmilyCWaldon) June 22, 2025
Up Next: Tonight, West Michigan heads back out on the road for their first six-game series of the second half with the Lake County Captains.
Pitcher of the Week: LHP Joe Miller
Picking up his fifth win of the year last week, 25-year-old lefty Joe Miller continues to serve as one of the most consistent arms in the West Michigan rotation. Sitting with the fourth-best ERA across the Midwest League through 62 1/3 innings this season, Miller is one of three West Michigan arms with five wins on the year. Against Wisconsin, Miller’s eight strikeouts marked the second campaign this season with eight or more strikeouts for Miller, and ending one shy of career-high of nine set on May 3.
“Miller’s a bulldog,” an American League scout said. “I’d like to see him get some work at a higher level to see what he can tap into.”
Player of the Week: OF Max Clark
Snapping an 0-for-9 skid at the plate, Max Clark bounced back in a big way against Wisconsin. The 20-year-old posted back-to-back multi-hit games, including a pair of runs scored and his fifth home run on the year. This also marked the 16th and 17th multi-hit games of the season for Clark.
“He’s figuring a lot of things out right now,” a National League scout said. “He’s a stud, sure, but he’s still a kid, if you think about it. A kid with a lot of weight on his shoulders and he’s going to have to navigate all this in his own way and his own time. I think it’s hard for fans to have grace for that sometimes.”
Whitecap to Watch: INF Izaac Pacheco
Since his selection as the Tigers’ second-round pick in 2021, Izaac Pacheco, now 22 years old and finally injury-free is finding his rhythm.
“That’s a different ballplayer than I saw last year,” a National League scout said. “Swing is tighter, looks better. More confident on defense too. That’s progress you love to see.”
Ask Pacheco and he’ll be the first to tell you the process takes time. Since his diet revision over the offseason and the intentionally extensive added repetitions on both sides of the ball, Pacheco is pacing for career-highs in offensive categories across the board and doing it in a fraction of the time.
Chris Brown 
Rogelio Castillo 
Jerry McKennan