MANCHESTER — The Akron Aeros will get a double-helping of the New Hampshire Fisher Cats in their final trip to the Queen City this season as the two teams play an Eastern League doubleheader beginning at 12:35 p.m. today. Saturday night's game was rained out.

Right-hander Chad Jenkins (5-9, 4.96), who was slated to pitch in Saturday night's game, will get the nod against Aeros hurler Danny Salazar (1-2, 2.68 for High-A Carolina Mudcats) in the first game.

“Jenkins didn't throw before tonight's game, so it's kind of good that it gives him a day off,” said Fisher Cats manager Sal Fasano following the postponement announcement. “Sometimes it's better when this happens. Any time you can get an extra day off in August is always good for your body. It keeps the guys going strong.”

Jenkins (114 1/3 innings) will make his 21st start of the season, looking to surpass Deck McGuire (23 starts, 119 innings) for the most innings on the team. The 2009 first-round pick was lights-out in his last start, tossing 7-1/3 innings of one-run baseball.

Ryan Tepera (5-1, 3.97) will get the nod in the later game, while Akron will counter with the original pitcher of Saturday night's game, Brett Brach (3-4, 4.70).

On MLB's July 31 trade deadline day, Tepera held the Erie SeaWolves to two runs over 5-1/3 innings in the Fisher Cats' 3-2 win at home.

After a 13-18 July, the team is winless in August, with an 0-3 start to the month. New Hampshire is just 6-for-37 with runners in scoring position during the current homestand.

Ryan Goins is one of the few bright spots for the Fisher Cats these days. The shortstop is 29 hits shy of matching the team record of 158 set by Darin Mastroianni in 2010. Brad Glenn is also contributing, being the only Fisher Cats player with 15 games or more in July to hit .300 or above in the month.

Heading into today's games, the Fisher Cats (43-70) sit 25½ games behind the first-place Trenton Thunder (68-44) in the Eastern Division. Akron (67-45) has a comfortable lead over the Bowie Baysox for first in the Western Division.

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Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Brandon Morrow is expected to make a rehab start in Thursday's Eastern League game for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats at the Erie SeaWolves. Morrow was placed on the 60-day disabled list on June 13 with a strained left oblique. He has made a pair of rehab starts at High-A Dunedin.

Prior to the injury, the right hander had posted a 7-4 record in 13 games this season for Toronto. He had 67 strikeouts and a 3.01 era.

Morrow was seventh in the American League with 203 strikeouts last season. Over his career, he has struck out 652 batters in 601 innings (200 games).
pdecola@unionleader.com