With just three homestands remaining, the West Michigan Whitecaps continue to find ways to stay one step ahead.
With a two-and-a-half-game lead over the Great Lakes Loons for the second half, the Whitecaps currently stand as one of only three teams across minor league baseball with 68 or more wins this season.
“It’s obviously a credit to the players because they’re the ones doing the heavy lifting, but you have to tip a cap to Tony Cappuccilli and that staff,” a National League scout said. “They just have a way of pulling gold out of guys, and I think that is a big reason why they continue to see the success they’re having. (Tony) Cappuccilli is as real as they come.”
West Michigan will welcome two new additions this week in outfielder Jackson Strong and right-hander Lucas Elissalt, both promoted from Class-A Lakeland. Strong, 21, was the Tigers’ 7th-round pick in 2024 and slashed .277/.382/.438 with 27 extra-base hits and 42 RBI over 73 games. Elissalt, also 21, was the Tigers’ 13th-round pick in 2024 and posted a 2.48 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 20 walks and 77 strikeouts over 65 1/3 innings for Lakeland.
GAME 1 – Dayton: 6, West Michigan: 2
After dominating the Dayton Dragons for the majority of the season, West Michigan learned fairly quickly that game one was going to be more challenging than expected. Down 2-0 going into the fourth inning, a lineout from Whitecaps’ Brett Callahan scored John Peck to put West Michigan on the board. Dayton responded with four unanswered runs until the eighth, when it was once again Brett Callahan coming through for the ‘Caps, this time with his fifth home run of the season.
On the mound for West Michigan, the rehabbing Alex Cobb got the start, finishing with one earned run allowed and four strikeouts over two frames. In relief of Cobb, Rayner Castillo struggled, giving up five runs, four of which were earned, to the Dragons. A West Michigan loss moved Cobb to 0-2 in his Midwest League rehab campaign.
Brett Callahan crushes a solo homer to dead center in his first game back with the Whitecaps in more than 2 months. It’s his 5th of the season. pic.twitter.com/ndHK3b3vPe
— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) July 30, 2025
GAME 2 – West Michigan: 6, Dayton: 3
Back in their rhythm on Wednesday, the Whitecaps offense was ready to go. Starting the day for West Michigan, Joe Miller worked 5 2/3 for the Caps, striking out five, walking a pair, and allowing three runs, two of which were earned. Although the West Michigan bats remained fairly quiet against Dayton starter Nick Sando, it was the eighth home run of the year from Seth Stephenson in the fifth that got the offense started.
An RBI single from Patrick Lee in the sixth cut the Dayton lead to one. Jump to the seventh, and West Michigan locked in. An RBI single from Stephenson, a two-RBI single from Jack Penney, and a fielding error from Dayton to score John Peck culminated in a four-run inning for the ‘Caps, who were able to even out the series with a game two win.
Seth Stephenson is a fast man, but he takes a slow trot around the bases after launching his 8th home run of the season. pic.twitter.com/XXkgvDxcy5
— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) July 30, 2025
GAME 3 – West Michigan: 3, Dayton: 2
When it comes to unsung heroes on the West Michigan roster, Andrew Jenkins has been one of the sharpest this season, and game three was just another example of that. In the bottom of the first inning, Jenkins punched his 10th home run of the year, a two-run shot to give West Michigan an early 2-0 lead.
Preston Howey got the start for the ‘Caps, working four innings with one run allowed to the Dragons. Carrying a 2-1 lead into the eighth, Dayton’s Anthony Stephen tied up the evening at two with his sixth home run of the season, but in the bottom of the frame, a sacrifice fly carried just enough to score Austin Murr for West Michigan and the one-run edge was enough to hold the ‘Caps for a second straight win.
Andrew Jenkins stays 🔥🔥🔥
🎙️ @ThatDanHasty pic.twitter.com/VE9Fz3Lbyu
— West Michigan Whitecaps (@wmwhitecaps) July 31, 2025
GAME 4 – West Michigan: 4, Dayton: 3
The Dayton Dragons made it clear they were going to make West Michigan work in this series, and game four produced another close contest. Getting the start for West Michigan, lefty Andrew Sears worked five scoreless frames, walking three and striking out seven. In his third game back from an extended stint on the injured list, Brett Callahan started the scoring for the ‘Caps with a two-RBI single at the bottom of the first.
A sacrifice fly from John Peck scored Seth Stephenson in the fifth to give West Michigan a 3-0 lead, and an RBI double from Peyton Graham, his 19th of the season, put the ‘Caps up by four in the seventh. Two scoreless relief innings from Carlos Lequerica helped to keep the Dragons at bay, and despite a three-run effort by Dayton between the eighth and ninth, Sears and the ‘Caps secured their 67th win of the regular season.
#Tigers Seth Stephenson moves to 2-for-4 tonight and just snagged his 36th stolen base of the season. pic.twitter.com/JuTxFb3UCJ
— Emily Waldon (@EmilyCWaldon) August 2, 2025
GAME 5 – Dayton: 5, West Michigan: 2
West Michigan starter Hayden Minton started the day with four scoreless innings against the Dragons, but a pair of home runs surrendered in the fifth to Dayton’s Carter Graham and Ariel Almonte ended the day for the 24-year-old after 4 1/3 innings. Andrew Jenkins plated John Peck in the fourth to get the ‘Caps on the board, and it was Jenkins and Peck again in the sixth, with Peck scoring another run for the ‘Caps, courtesy of Jenkins’ 16th double of the season.
Peck finished 3-for-3 on the night, including posting his 20th double of the yeah. Unfortunately, another three runs surrendered by the West Michigan bullpen gave Dayton the advantage they needed to secure game five.
Patrick Lee <DaDaDa, DaDaDa>
🎙️ @ThatDanHasty pic.twitter.com/jlVSVVZWDr
— West Michigan Whitecaps (@wmwhitecaps) August 2, 2025
GAME 6 – West Michigan: 7, Dayton: 5
In the series finale, West Michigan looked to another rehab appearance from Tigers’ Alex Cobb, with another two frames of work against Dayton. Facing the Dragons, the 37-year-old allowed two hits, walking one and striking out two with one unearned run allowed. Coming to the plate in the first inning, West Michigan got to work quickly. John Peck continued his offensive dominance with his 21st double of the season, a wild pitch by Dayton scored Austin Murr, an RBI single from Andrew Jenkins scored John Peck, and a Dayton fielding error proved enough to score Jenkins for a four-run first inning for the ‘Caps.
In the third, it was John Peck again with his 10th home run of the season, and in the fifth, a sacrifice fly from Garrett Pennington scored John Peck for Peck’s third run of the day. An RBI single from Seth Stephenson in the eighth lifted West Michigan to a 7-5 lead and enough to take both the finale and the series.
#Tigers JOHN PECK.
Home run number 10 with West Michigan.
He’s got five hits over his last two games. pic.twitter.com/VWyf4CIkbe
— Emily Waldon (@EmilyCWaldon) August 3, 2025
Up Next: Tonight, West Michigan welcomes the Midwest League West-leading Cedar Rapids Kernels for their second straight homestand at LMCU Ballpark. Like the Whitecaps, the Kernels also clinched a first-half playoff berth and are still in control of the Midwest League Western Division.
Pitcher of the Week: LHP Andrew Sears
Since the start of the regular season, Andrew Sears has slowly but surely grown into one of the most consistent pieces of the West Michigan starting rotation. Over 20 appearances, four of which were in relief, the 22-year-old is sitting second across the league in strikeouts with 94 over 74 1/3 innings. Including his scoreless campaign against the Dragons, Sears has gone scoreless in two of his last three outings for the Whitecaps, posting a 2.95 ERA (fourth-best in the Midwest League) and a 1.13 WHIP overall this season.
Player of the Week: INF John Peck
As if he hadn’t hit enough already this year, John Peck exploded against the Dayton Dragons, as he celebrated his birthday week by being named the Midwest League Player of the Week. Over five games, the 23-year-old combined for nine hits, eight runs, two doubles, a home run, and three RBI. Peck currently leads the Midwest League in runs scored (75), is tied for first in hits (109), tied for fifth in doubles (21), and tied for fifth in RBI (56).
Whitecap to Watch: RHP Carlos Lequerica
Signed as a free agent in 2023, Miami alum Carlos Lequerica has quickly and quietly become one of the top relief arms out of the West Michigan bullpen. Navigating his first season in the Midwest League, the 24-year-old has been dominant against opposing hitters nearly all season long. Over 32 outings, Lequerica has only allowed earned runs in five of those outings, including only one unearned run allowed for April and only one earned run allowed for May. Currently at 7-0 on the year, Lequerica is carrying a 2.51 ERA with 34 strikeouts over 43 innings on the year.
Chris Brown 
Rogelio Castillo 
Jerry McKennan