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Photo by Christina DeRuyter, TexAgs
Texas A&M Baseball
Series Preview: No. 15 Texas A&M vs. No. 11 Mississippi State
Who: Mississippi State (30-16, 14-7 SEC)
Where: Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park — College Station, Texas
When: Thursday 6:30 p.m. CT (ESPNU)
Friday 6:30 p.m. CT (SEC+)
Saturday 1:00 p.m. CT (ESPNU)
Pitching matchups
Scouting Mississippi State
First-year head coach Andy Cannizaro has been the ultimate illusionist, taking an injury-riddled Bulldog team and challenging for the SEC championship in his debut season in Starkville. He came to MSU after three successful seasons as the hitting coach and recruiting coordinator at LSU under Paul Maineiri.
After tonight, MSU has not announced any additional starters, and Cannizaro will play it by ear, depending on how deep he has to go into his bullpen on Thursday. Starting pitching and middle relief have been this team's Achilles heel, with the staff sporting a very high 4.62 ERA compared to Texas A&M's team ERA of 3.09.
With that said, the Bulldogs have one of the best closers in the SEC. Spencer Price leads the conference in saves with 14 and holds a sparking 2.03 ERA. Opposing batters are hitting just .176 against him. Riley Self (2.43 ERA) is an effective set-up man as well. So Cannizaro's goal is to find a way to plug-and-play his way to the seventh inning without the bottom falling out. If the team can make it to the seventh frame competing in a tight game, they have a good chance to win the contest.
The Bulldogs don't get into many pitcher's duels. The potent MSU offense assures that runs will be scored. You can't start the discussion on run production unless you mention big slugger Brent Rooker. The redshirt junior was tabbed a preseason all-American, and he just may be the best offensive player in college baseball.
Rooker is a hitting machine, batting .413 with 19 home runs and 65 RBI. He has an incredible 172 total bases and a .913 slugging percentage. He also has 26 walks and an on-base percentage of .509. How important is Rooker to this Bulldog offense? Well, he has driven in 23.3% of the team's runs this season. And if that wasn't enough, he also leads the team in stolen bases with 17.
Mississippi State has several other offensive weapons. As a whole, the team is hitting at an impressive .291. Jake Mangum (.333) has been the premiere pure hitter in college baseball the past two seasons, while Ryan Gidley is scalding the ball at .341. Overall, MSU brings five starters to the plate with a batting average above .300.
The loss of Stovall weakens the back-end of the batting order for the Bulldogs and gives the Aggie pitching staff a little more wiggle room in dealing with the murderer's row of Rooker, Gidley, and Mangum. But, the MSU offense is still the biggest test for Texas A&M's arms since the opening weekend against Kentucky.
No surprises here ... just more of the same that the team has delivered over the past month. The Aggies still need three quality starts. I don't think the pitching staff can shut down the Bulldog offense like they stymied Missouri, Tennessee and Alabama in recent weeks. Their offense is too good.
They key for Texas A&M pitchers is to take care of hitters before Rooker comes to the plate. He's going to get his hits. But a two-out double with nobody on base is harmless compared to a bases-clearing, 3-RBI double. That means A&M can't walk the seven-, eight- or nine-hole hitters. Pitchers can't relax at the bottom of the lineup. Work cleanly at the bottom of the order, and the more times you can avoid having to face the three-headed monster of Mangum, Rooker and Gidley at the top of the order.
The other big factor here is Texas A&M's bats. They won't have the luxury of scuffling around for most of the game, waiting for the starting pitcher to tire and then feasting on sub-par relievers like they did against Missouri. Mississippi State has a stingy back end and a softer starting rotation, so the key is to do some damage in the first four innings and get into the softer part of the bullpen where there are opportunities to open up the game.
Christina DeRuyter, TexAgs
The Aggie offense needs to jump on MSU's starting pitchers early throughout the weekend.
More specifically, the key to this weekend will be tonight's first game when Brigham Hill faces MSU's one top-line starting pitcher, Pilkington. If the offense can find a way to get to him early and get him on the ropes, the pitching matchups will favor Texas A&M the rest of the series. If the bats come out hot and hurt Pilkington early, the odds for a sweep rise significantly.
It's May. The Aggies are one game out of fist place and play the first place team in the SEC this weekend. This is what college baseball is all about. In part, this is why Texas A&M joined the SEC: to play the best baseball programs in the country for a conference title. The atmosphere should be electric all weekend.
There are also huge NCAA implications, as well. The door to hosting a regional is still open, but it will take a huge finish against three quality SEC teams to get it done. Defeating the No. 11 team in the country is the first step. MSU is weakened by injury on the mound and will be playing without its starting second baseman. If the Aggies play like they've done the past three weeks, a series win is definitely possible and a sweep is not out of the question.
Both scenarios keep Texas A&M in the hunt for a conference title and a regional host spot, but with a sweep, the Aggies will be in a favorable position to accomplish both season goals. Enjoy the weekend, Ags!
Where: Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park — College Station, Texas
When: Thursday 6:30 p.m. CT (ESPNU)
Friday 6:30 p.m. CT (SEC+)
Saturday 1:00 p.m. CT (ESPNU)
Pitching matchups
- Thursday: Brigham Hill (RHP, 6-3, 2.62) vs. Konnor Pilkington (LHP, 5-3, 3.10)
- Friday: Corbin Martin (RHP, 5-2, 3.13) vs. TBA
- Saturday: Stephen Kolek (RHP, 3-2, 3.52) vs. TBA
Scouting Mississippi State
First-year head coach Andy Cannizaro has been the ultimate illusionist, taking an injury-riddled Bulldog team and challenging for the SEC championship in his debut season in Starkville. He came to MSU after three successful seasons as the hitting coach and recruiting coordinator at LSU under Paul Maineiri.
Injuries have afflicted the Bulldog pitching staff this season, and the result has been a patchwork starting rotation.
Injuries have afflicted the Bulldog pitching staff this season, and the result has been a patchwork starting rotation. The Bulldogs will open tonight's series with left-hander Konnor Pilkington, who sports a solid 5-3 record and a 3.10 ERA. With the Aggies' batting order dominated with left-handed hitters, game one will be the most difficult and critical tilt.After tonight, MSU has not announced any additional starters, and Cannizaro will play it by ear, depending on how deep he has to go into his bullpen on Thursday. Starting pitching and middle relief have been this team's Achilles heel, with the staff sporting a very high 4.62 ERA compared to Texas A&M's team ERA of 3.09.
With that said, the Bulldogs have one of the best closers in the SEC. Spencer Price leads the conference in saves with 14 and holds a sparking 2.03 ERA. Opposing batters are hitting just .176 against him. Riley Self (2.43 ERA) is an effective set-up man as well. So Cannizaro's goal is to find a way to plug-and-play his way to the seventh inning without the bottom falling out. If the team can make it to the seventh frame competing in a tight game, they have a good chance to win the contest.
The Bulldogs don't get into many pitcher's duels. The potent MSU offense assures that runs will be scored. You can't start the discussion on run production unless you mention big slugger Brent Rooker. The redshirt junior was tabbed a preseason all-American, and he just may be the best offensive player in college baseball.
Rooker is a hitting machine, batting .413 with 19 home runs and 65 RBI. He has an incredible 172 total bases and a .913 slugging percentage. He also has 26 walks and an on-base percentage of .509. How important is Rooker to this Bulldog offense? Well, he has driven in 23.3% of the team's runs this season. And if that wasn't enough, he also leads the team in stolen bases with 17.
Mississippi State has several other offensive weapons. As a whole, the team is hitting at an impressive .291. Jake Mangum (.333) has been the premiere pure hitter in college baseball the past two seasons, while Ryan Gidley is scalding the ball at .341. Overall, MSU brings five starters to the plate with a batting average above .300.
It should be noted that one of the Bulldog's best hitters will not be available this weekend in College Station. Hunter Stovall suffered an injury last week.
It should be noted that one of those five hitters will not be available this weekend in College Station. Hunter Stovall suffered an injury last week and has been ruled out for the weekend. Not only will MSU miss his .318 batting average, but the sophomore stabilized the infield, having committed just three errors at second base.The loss of Stovall weakens the back-end of the batting order for the Bulldogs and gives the Aggie pitching staff a little more wiggle room in dealing with the murderer's row of Rooker, Gidley, and Mangum. But, the MSU offense is still the biggest test for Texas A&M's arms since the opening weekend against Kentucky.
Texas A&M storylines to watch
No surprises here ... just more of the same that the team has delivered over the past month. The Aggies still need three quality starts. I don't think the pitching staff can shut down the Bulldog offense like they stymied Missouri, Tennessee and Alabama in recent weeks. Their offense is too good.
They key for Texas A&M pitchers is to take care of hitters before Rooker comes to the plate. He's going to get his hits. But a two-out double with nobody on base is harmless compared to a bases-clearing, 3-RBI double. That means A&M can't walk the seven-, eight- or nine-hole hitters. Pitchers can't relax at the bottom of the lineup. Work cleanly at the bottom of the order, and the more times you can avoid having to face the three-headed monster of Mangum, Rooker and Gidley at the top of the order.
The other big factor here is Texas A&M's bats. They won't have the luxury of scuffling around for most of the game, waiting for the starting pitcher to tire and then feasting on sub-par relievers like they did against Missouri. Mississippi State has a stingy back end and a softer starting rotation, so the key is to do some damage in the first four innings and get into the softer part of the bullpen where there are opportunities to open up the game.
Christina DeRuyter, TexAgs
The Aggie offense needs to jump on MSU's starting pitchers early throughout the weekend.
What's at stake this weekend
It's May. The Aggies are one game out of fist place and play the first place team in the SEC this weekend. This is what college baseball is all about. In part, this is why Texas A&M joined the SEC: to play the best baseball programs in the country for a conference title. The atmosphere should be electric all weekend.
There are also huge NCAA implications, as well. The door to hosting a regional is still open, but it will take a huge finish against three quality SEC teams to get it done. Defeating the No. 11 team in the country is the first step. MSU is weakened by injury on the mound and will be playing without its starting second baseman. If the Aggies play like they've done the past three weeks, a series win is definitely possible and a sweep is not out of the question.
Both scenarios keep Texas A&M in the hunt for a conference title and a regional host spot, but with a sweep, the Aggies will be in a favorable position to accomplish both season goals. Enjoy the weekend, Ags!
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