By Josh Cook

After their last scheduled day off of the regular season the Louisville Bats are back home, beginning Tuesday night.

The Bats, who had Monday off, are in the thick of the International League playoff race and they begin a four-game series against Syracuse at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday at Louisville Slugger Field. They play 11 of their next 14 games at home.

Louisville (68-54) trails IL West-leading Columbus (71-52) by 2 1/2 games in the division after the Clippers completed a three-game sweep of the Bats.

Louisville, which has 21 games remaining in the regular season, leads the IL wild card standings by 2 1/2 games over Buffalo (65-56) and 4 1/2 over the Chiefs (64-59). Those two teams sit second and third, respectively, in the IL North.

The Bats enter their series against Syracuse having won 19 of their last 23 games. Ironically all four of their losses in that period have come against Columbus.

Syracuse, which has won two in a row and six of its last 10 games, comes in dead last in the IL in batting average (.249).

Right-handed pitcher Micah Owings (0-0, 2.35 earned-run average) is slated to make his sixth start for the Bats. He'll take on Chiefs' righty Shairon Martis (7-6, 4.08) at Slugger Field, where Louisville plays 13 of its final 21 games. Hot dogs and Pepsi products will be $1, while it is also KRAFT Singles Tuesday night at the park. If you buy one field reserved ticket you get a second one free with a KRAFT Singles package (visit www.kraftsingles.com for additional information).