Gwinnett Stripers Look to Reset Against Durham as Second Half Intensifies
By Pretty Girls Media Sports Staff
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. — The Gwinnett Stripers return home Tuesday night with something to prove.
After a difficult road trip and a narrow loss to the Norfolk Tides in their most recent game, Gwinnett opens a six-game series against the Durham Bulls at Gwinnett Field looking to turn its second-half fortunes around.
The Stripers enter the series at 22-23 in the second half and 60-59 overall, sitting 11th in the International League's second-half standings. Durham arrives at 26-18 in the second half and 54-65 overall, tied for fourth and just 1½ games behind first-place Indianapolis.
For Gwinnett, however, the standings don't tell the entire story.
The Stripers possess one of the league's strongest pitching staffs, rank first in the International League in stolen bases and have a young outfielder rapidly forcing his way into the conversation as one of the organization's most intriguing prospects.
Tuesday's opener provides another opportunity to put those pieces together.
Clohisy Has Quickly Become a Difference-Maker
Few players have changed the complexion of the Stripers' lineup faster than Patrick Clohisy.
Since joining Gwinnett on July 11, Clohisy has been among the International League's most productive hitters. Entering Tuesday, the 24-year-old outfielder was hitting .396 with three home runs, 15 RBIs and 17 stolen bases in his first 28 games with the Stripers.
His production has been particularly remarkable considering the sample size.
Clohisy ranked first in the International League in batting average, second in hits, tied for third in runs, fourth in total bases and fifth in OPS since making his Triple-A debut. He also ranked fifth among all minor leaguers with 54 stolen bases between Gwinnett and Double-A Columbus.
That combination of speed and contact has made Clohisy one of the most intriguing names to watch in the Braves' system.
MLB.com currently ranks him as Atlanta's No. 16 prospect.
And his momentum hasn't slowed.
Clohisy enters Tuesday with a two-game hitting streak and recently put together an eight-game stretch in which he went 17-for-30. He also drove in two runs in Gwinnett's most recent game, an 9-8 extra-inning loss to Norfolk on Aug. 16.
Hicklen Continues to Provide Power
While Clohisy has emerged as one of the organization's hottest young players, Brewer Hicklen remains the veteran engine of the Stripers' offense.
Hicklen enters the series batting .301 with 18 home runs, 63 RBIs and 28 stolen bases. His .899 OPS ranks ninth in the International League, while his 74 runs rank third.
He also enters the Durham series riding a five-game hitting streak.
Hicklen's power has repeatedly produced some of Gwinnett's biggest moments this season. On July 10, he delivered a two-run walk-off home run against Memphis, becoming the 22nd player in franchise history to hit a walk-off homer.
He's also shown his ability to impact a game without leaving the yard. On Aug. 12 at Norfolk, Hicklen tied the Gwinnett single-game record with two triples.
His production gives Gwinnett another dangerous element in a lineup that has struggled to rank among the league's best overall offensive units.
The Numbers Point to Pitching
If the Stripers are going to make a push, their pitching staff may be their biggest asset.
Gwinnett enters the series ranked second in the International League in team ERA at 4.38, with both its starting rotation and bullpen also ranking second in ERA. The Stripers are third in WHIP at 1.38 and fourth in batting average against at .241.
That makes Tuesday's matchup particularly interesting.
Herick Hernandez gets the start for Gwinnett against Durham right-hander Jake Woodford.
Hernandez, Atlanta's No. 12 prospect according to MLB.com, enters with a 6.00 ERA in five Triple-A starts, but his recent outing showed why the organization remains high on him.
On Aug. 12 at Norfolk, Hernandez struck out a career-high 11 batters over 6⅓ innings, allowing two runs on two hits. It was his first Triple-A quality start and the most strikeouts by a Gwinnett pitcher since JR Ritchie also struck out 11 in August 2025.
The challenge Tuesday will be turning that individual performance into a team victory.
Gwinnett's Speed Is Already Making History
If there's one characteristic that has defined the Stripers this season, it's aggressiveness on the bases.
Gwinnett has stolen 228 bases, the most in the International League.
More importantly, that total has already established a new Atlanta Braves Triple-A record.
The 2026 Stripers have surpassed the previous franchise mark of 217 stolen bases set by the 2024 Gwinnett club.
DaShawn Keirsey Jr. leads the team with 36 steals, while Luke Williams has climbed to second on Gwinnett's all-time career stolen-base list with 68.
The combination of Clohisy, Keirsey, Williams and the rest of Gwinnett's speed-first lineup gives the Stripers an offensive identity even when the power numbers aren't there.
A Familiar Opponent, a Different Opportunity
Durham has been a difficult opponent for Gwinnett this season.
The Stripers are just 6-12 against the Bulls in 2026, including a 4-10-2 mark in the season series. Durham has also outscored Gwinnett 88-77 in those meetings.
That history adds another layer to Tuesday's opener.
The Bulls enter the series tied for fourth in the second-half standings, while Gwinnett sits six games behind first-place Indianapolis. With the second-half title determined by the best record, every series carries added weight as the season moves toward its final stretch.
For Gwinnett, the path forward is clear: pitch well, create pressure on the bases and find enough offense to turn close games into wins.
The Stripers have already shown they can do all three.
Now they have to do it consistently.
The Road Ahead
Tuesday's opener begins a six-game home series against Durham, with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m. ET at Gwinnett Field in Lawrenceville. Hernandez is scheduled to face Woodford.
The Stripers will remain home throughout the week, with Bailey Falter, JR Ritchie, Drue Hackenberg and Cedric De Grandpre scheduled to start subsequent games in the series.
There is plenty still to play for.
Clohisy is establishing himself as one of the hottest hitters in the league. Hicklen continues to provide power and production. Hernandez and the pitching staff have the ability to control games. And Gwinnett's record-setting running game gives the lineup a dimension few teams can match.
The Stripers may not be where they want to be in the standings.
But with more than enough talent and time remaining, the second half is far from over.
And against Durham, Gwinnett has a chance to start changing the story.
