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Mik'd Up W/ Mikie Mahtook & J Mitch | LSU Baseball vs Tennessee Preview | SEC Baseball
Weekend Preview: LSU vs. No. 4 Tennessee baseball
1. Who starts game one?
It appears Vitello is shaking up his pitching staff going into this weekend's series against LSU. The Vols did not list a starter for Friday's series opener, but will start junior right-hander Drew Beam on Saturday afternoon in game two and senior left-hander Zander Sechrist in the series finale on Sunday. It's the first time Vitello has listed Sechrist as a projected starter since the southpaw started the Sunday game of opening weekend.
Jacksonville State transfer AJ Causey has made the last six starts in the series opener for Tennessee, but has struggled in his two most recent outings against Georgia and Ole Miss. Causey has allowed 15 earned runs on 15 hits over just 4.0 innings in his last two starts after allowing only seven runs in 33.0 innings to begin the season.
Causey will still be a major part of the pitching plans moving forward, even this weekend. But in the meantime, I'd look for senior LHP Chris Stamos or RHP Aaron Combs to get the ball first against LSU.
"Throwing strikes and then good presence," Vitello said when asked this week what he wants to see from his pitcher. "A guy could give up a hit or not give up a hit, but his mannerisms and just how he makes you feel. It's overly simple but all coaches are looking for guys that make them feel good. Make them comfortable, make them not lose sleep at night, make them not pace in the dugout, and I've coached guys before where the numbers aren't great on the plate or on the mound, but you feel good that they're in there. And you're completely fine with whatever the results are.
Luke Holman vs. Drew Beam
Saturday's pitching matchup will be one of the best the league has seen early on in conference play when Tennessee's reliable veteran faces a hard-throwing transfer that led the Vols astray this past offseason in the portal.
Holman has been one of the SEC's best arms this season after transferring from Alabama. He's currently 6-1 on the season with a 2.01 ERA in 34.2 innings, and has recorded 13 walks to 71 strikeouts. Opponents are hitting just .174 off of him.
"It's not only good stuff with good movement, but it's a multitude of pitches that he's able to throw in multiple situations," Vitello said about Holman this week. "You have to have a specific plan about what you want to do. There's not as much room for error."
3. Take advantage of LSU's struggles on the mound
Outside of Holman, things have not gone well for LSU's pitching staff as a whole to this point in conference play. The Tigers rank ninth in home runs allowed (22), 10th in walks (59) allowed, 11th in opponent batting average (.297), earned runs allowed (89) and ERA (7.70), 12th in hits (126) and doubles (26) allowed, and fourth in hit batters (14).
Tennessee's offense has been on an absolute heater the last couple of weeks to assert itself as possibly the best offense in the country. Holman will be a tough matchup, but the Vols should be able to take advantage of a group of LSU pitchers that are searching at the moment.
Contain Tommy White
LSU's offense has been up and down throughout SEC play, but the one constant has been its junior third baseman. White is the Tigers' leading-hitter with a .324 batting average, 11 home runs and 33 runs. He's hitting .353 in his last five games with two homers, four RBI, seven runs, five walks and a .522 on-base percentage.
Hold LSU's lineup in check
LSU's offense hasn't quite clicked the way that fans in Baton Rouge had hoped it would this season.
In SEC play, the Tigers rank ninth in on-base percentage (.349), 10th in hits, 11th in runs (61) and batting average (.248) and 12th in RBIs (55).
They have hit the fifth-most home runs (23), however.
The Tigers still have bats that Tennessee will need to hold in check. White, first baseman Jared Jones and catcher Hayden Travinski are all capable of wrecking UT's weekend. LSU doesn't lack talent and potential throughout the lineup either. Frank Anderson's pitching staff will need to make sure this isn't the weekend that the Tigers break out.
"You've got one of the biggest traditions and one of the biggest names in our sport," Vitello said. "A lot of those guys that contributed to that national championship are still around. It's a tall task whether you're at home or on the road or playing whatever team, but this one certainly comes with a lot of boxes that are checked."
