Bama/LSU Series Preview
Bama heads to Baton Rouge for another 3 game series on the road starting tomorrow night. LSU is currently ranked #1 and sitting at 6-3 at home in SEC play (they have won each series 2-1). The Tigers are led by arguably the 2 best draftable prospects in college baseball this season... Friday night starter RHP Paul Skenes and OF Dylan Crews. Skenes touches 100 to go along with a nasty slider and changeup. Crews is a 5 tool player who does everything well. He's currently sitting on a .485 BA. Overall, LSU's hitting is tops in the league with a .320 team average (UA's is .308). Third baseman Tommy White is another highly projected draft pick who also swings a big bat but is working his way back from an injury, so maybe it'll lessen his impact some. About the only area LSU lacks on offense is speed, they don't steal a lot of bases... but they don't really have to/need to with their bats, so that is more strategy than lack of ability, IMO. Their team ERA is 4.26, good enough for 6th in the SEC (UA's is 3.77), but opposing hitters are batting just .217 against them. I will say while they have some really good arms, they are dealing with a couple of injuries too, and some of the other guys have been inconsistent. Around the diamond, they are also one of the better fielding teams in the league. To beat them, you have to make the most of opportunities... hitting with RISP, not giving away outs on the bases, moving runners when necessary, etc.
All things considered, I'd be happy with Alabama getting 1 win... but the Tide is going into this series playing as well as they've played as a team all season (especially in league play), so 1 win doesn't have to be the ceiling (it does need to be the floor). At the plate, freshman slugger Colby Shelton seems to have emerged from his midseason slump after readjusting to SEC pitchers. OF Andrew Pinckey's bat is picking back up too after a bit of a cool period that saw him dropped to the back part of the order for a spell. Drew Williamson, who had been swinging a hot bat all season, has had some struggles at the plate this month, but he too is showing signs of getting back on track. Caden Rose returning from injury has also given the offense a needed boost. It has taken a while, but the Tide offense is finally showing its potential, at a time it will be needed most.
On the mound, Bama has managed pretty well thus far with starters Grayson Hitt and Ben Hess on the shelf. But, it is certainly worth mentioning that navigating auburn and Missouri with those 2 out is completely different than navigating LSU and Vandy. The good news? The bullpen is deep and well rested. Any late lead has to feel pretty safe with the ball in the hands of freshman closer Alton Davis II, who has emerged in the last month as an absolute weapon on the back end.
SEC - West Standings
Weekend Series Matchups
Mississippi State @ Tennessee
Texas A&M @ Arkansas
Alabama @ LSU
Kentucky @ Vanderbilt
Missouri @ Florida
auburn @ South Carolina
Georgia @ Ole Miss
Bama heads to Baton Rouge for another 3 game series on the road starting tomorrow night. LSU is currently ranked #1 and sitting at 6-3 at home in SEC play (they have won each series 2-1). The Tigers are led by arguably the 2 best draftable prospects in college baseball this season... Friday night starter RHP Paul Skenes and OF Dylan Crews. Skenes touches 100 to go along with a nasty slider and changeup. Crews is a 5 tool player who does everything well. He's currently sitting on a .485 BA. Overall, LSU's hitting is tops in the league with a .320 team average (UA's is .308). Third baseman Tommy White is another highly projected draft pick who also swings a big bat but is working his way back from an injury, so maybe it'll lessen his impact some. About the only area LSU lacks on offense is speed, they don't steal a lot of bases... but they don't really have to/need to with their bats, so that is more strategy than lack of ability, IMO. Their team ERA is 4.26, good enough for 6th in the SEC (UA's is 3.77), but opposing hitters are batting just .217 against them. I will say while they have some really good arms, they are dealing with a couple of injuries too, and some of the other guys have been inconsistent. Around the diamond, they are also one of the better fielding teams in the league. To beat them, you have to make the most of opportunities... hitting with RISP, not giving away outs on the bases, moving runners when necessary, etc.
All things considered, I'd be happy with Alabama getting 1 win... but the Tide is going into this series playing as well as they've played as a team all season (especially in league play), so 1 win doesn't have to be the ceiling (it does need to be the floor). At the plate, freshman slugger Colby Shelton seems to have emerged from his midseason slump after readjusting to SEC pitchers. OF Andrew Pinckey's bat is picking back up too after a bit of a cool period that saw him dropped to the back part of the order for a spell. Drew Williamson, who had been swinging a hot bat all season, has had some struggles at the plate this month, but he too is showing signs of getting back on track. Caden Rose returning from injury has also given the offense a needed boost. It has taken a while, but the Tide offense is finally showing its potential, at a time it will be needed most.
On the mound, Bama has managed pretty well thus far with starters Grayson Hitt and Ben Hess on the shelf. But, it is certainly worth mentioning that navigating auburn and Missouri with those 2 out is completely different than navigating LSU and Vandy. The good news? The bullpen is deep and well rested. Any late lead has to feel pretty safe with the ball in the hands of freshman closer Alton Davis II, who has emerged in the last month as an absolute weapon on the back end.
SEC - East Standings
| CONF | CONF % | OVERALL | HOME | ROAD | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #3,South Carolina | 13-4 | .765 | 34-6 | 24-1 | 8-5 |
| #5 Vanderbilt | 13-5 | .722 | 29-11 | 19-5 | 6-4 |
| #4 Florida | 11-7 | .611 | 32-10 | 24-6 | 8-4 |
| #15 Kentucky | 11-7 | .611 | 30-10 | 20-4 | 10-6 |
| #24 Tennessee | 8-10 | .444 | 27-14 | 25-4 | 1-9 |
| Georgia | 7-11 | .389 | 23-18 | 15-10 | 6-7 |
| Missouri | 5-13 | .278 | 24-16 | 13-6 | 7-9 |
SEC - West Standings
| CONF | CONF % | OVERALL | HOME | ROAD | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 LSU | 12-5 | .706 | 32-8 | 22-5 | 8-2 |
| #7 Arkansas | 11-7 | .611 | 30-11 | 25-3 | 3-7 |
| Alabama | 9-9 | .500 | 30-12 | 22-7 | 7-5 |
| Texas A&M | 9-9 | .500 | 25-16 | 17-10 | 6-5 |
| Auburn | 7-11 | .389 | 23-17-1 | 18-8-1 | 3-9 |
| Mississippi State | 6-12 | .333 | 24-17 | 15-9 | 4-6 |
| Ole Miss | 3-15 | .167 | 21-20 | 14-11 | 5-8 |
Weekend Series Matchups
Mississippi State @ Tennessee
Texas A&M @ Arkansas
Alabama @ LSU
Kentucky @ Vanderbilt
Missouri @ Florida
auburn @ South Carolina
Georgia @ Ole Miss
