Wednesday night will see a playoff atmosphere return to Central Ohio, when the Columbus Clippers host the Durham Bulls at Huntington Park. It will mark the start of the 2014 Governors’ Cup playoffs, the annual postseason tournament for the International League (one of two baseball leagues at the AAA-level, one level below MLB). It’s the first appearance for Columbus (who are affiliated with the Cleveland Indians) since winning back-to-back championships in 2010 & 2011, while Durham (affiliated with the Tampa Bay Rays) are seeking their second straight IL title.

Columbus qualified for the playoffs by winning the West Division with a 79-65 record. The Clippers were one of the few clubs to have more success away from home; they were tied with Pawtucket for the best road record (41-31) but finished the regular season with home wins over Toledo after being swept in Indianapolis. With the team adding veteran Russell Branyan to their roster, Columbus is eager to win their third Governors’ Cup in five seasons. Important to mention: the Clippers not only won back-to-back Cups in 2010 & 2011, they also won consecutive Triple-A National Championship Games, too.

Durham is back in the playoffs after winning the IL South Division, and like Columbus, has won multiple Cups in the past, in addition to the 2009 Triple-A National Championship. Durham has relied more on defense throughout the season, as they rank in the bottom two in runs scored, hits, and runs batted in. Pitcher Nate Karns was one of the two strikeout leaders in the IL in 2014, and he will start Game 4 for the Bulls if necessary. Should this series go all five games, Durham would have home-field advantage, but the first two contests are in Ohio, and the Bulls were only two games above .500 on the road.

Columbus was gripped by postseason fever last April when the Blue Jackets gave the Penguins their best shot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Will the Clippers go one better and advance to the Championship series, and win another Governors’ Cup?