The IronPigs returned home this week and started a series with the Buffalo Bisons on the International League schedule.

Thanks to a successful road trip to Syracuse, Lehigh Valley put themselves into the No. 2 spot in the East Division standings - just one game behind both Jacksonville and Rochester. They were one game ahead of Buffalo, who are managed by former major leaguer Casey Candaele, but following a lot to the Bisons on Tuesday, the two clubs are now tied and sit in third place.

Buffalo was coming off a tough 2-4 homestand against the Durham Bulls.

One thing to keep an eye on this week is whether major league pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu of the Blue Jays will make a second rehab start with the Bisons. Ryu pitched on Saturday and went four innings for Buffalo, throwing 74 pitches. The Blue Jays have not determined whether he will make another rehab start of whether they will activate him to pitch for them this weekend when they play Tampa Bay.

Ricardo Sanchez started for Lehigh Valley on Tuesday and couldn’t get out of the first, allowing eight runs in one-third of a inning. James Marvel (0-5, 13.30) and Michael Mariot (2-0, 5.06) will probably see starts in the series. Bailey Falter could have had a start, but was called up to the Phillies to pitch in Wednesday’s game in Seattle. It’s also possible that lefty Cristopher Sanchez, who served as the 27th man for the Phillies on Sunday and started game two of their doubleheader with the Mets, will start either Saturday or Sunday with Colton Eastman taking the other start.

Catcher Donny Sands wound up on the IL for Lehigh Valley, but backup catcher Austin Wynns is making the most of his chances and in the last 11 games is batting .429 (12-for-28) with two home runs and 13 RBI to lead the Pigs in batting and RBI over that period. Jairo Munoz and Bryson Stott – currently back and playing in Philadelphia – share the team lead with 11 runs scored in the last 11 games, with Munoz hitting a cool .400 (16-for-40).

On the mound, Mark Appel continues to be impressive with a 4-0 record and a 1.88 ERA in his last seven appearances out of the bullpen. Dillon Maples hadn’t allowed an earned run in his first nine outings until Buffalo scored two runs off him on Tuesday. Left-hander Jonathan Hennigan (2-0, 2.08) and righties Tyler Cyr (2-0, 2.89) and Nick Duron (0-1, 2.38) have also pitched well out of the bullpen this season.

Among starters, Colton Eastman was roughed up in his final outing in Syracuse, but still maintains a 3.42 ERA through six starts.

LOOK OUT BELOW ... Will the IronPigs be receiving any new players from Double-A Reading? Truth is that you never know, but if they do, here are some options. The Phillies just recalled reliever Francisco Morales (1-0, 0.55) from Reading to the big leagues to take a bullpen spot temporarily. When he is sent back down, it’s possible that he will head for Lehigh Valley and not Reading. The righty is transitioning to pitching out of the bullpen this season. Starter Noah Skirrow lacks a lot of Double-A experience, but he has pitched well, going 2-2, 3.44 in four starts. As for bats, catcher Logan O’Hoppe (2-7-.289) and veteran first baseman Josh Ockimey (3-9-.282) in their last 10 games are both deserving of a look.

INS AND OUTS ... Bryson Stott rejoined the Phillies when shortstop Didi Gregorius went on the IL over the weekend and reliever Connor Brogdon was also recalled by Philadelphia. Donny Sands went on the IL and Damon Jones is currently on the COVID-related IL. Zach Warren and Jake Newberry are also in the IL. As for the good news, Dalton Guthrie was activated from the IL.

THE STREAK IS OVER ... Darick Hall’s streak of two straight International League Player of the Week wins ended this past week when Chadwick Tromp of the Gwinnett Stripers was named the IL Player of the Week. Hall cooled off to hit .269/.321/.385 this past week on the road, while Tromp hit .471/.526/1.353 with four home runs and 12 RBI for the Braves top affiliate.