This week's injury report is short, but potentially devastating. After being pulled from his appearance after only a few pitches, Alden Cartwright is set to get an MRI on his elbow after he felt something pop. Coach Mainieri said "News will not be good even in the short term". Meanwhile Latz is set for a bullpen with live hitters on Wednesday and could return to the active roster next week. Tonight, LSU will start Jesse Stallings, followed by Johnny Wholestaff
In the 3rd base dugout tonight, Rodger Cador's Southern Jaguars (8-17, 3-8 in SWAC) come down from the bluffs for the 53rd game in the cross-town series. The Jags are...not good. Despite taking LSU to extra innings last season, NCAA penalties against Southern caused coach Cador to dismiss 7 players last fall and overall their are 22 new players on this year's SU team. 4 of their 8 wins come from games against Selma and Loyola in Nola, which are not D1 teams. Aside from 1 surprise Sunday win at Auburn, there's not much for this club to hang their hats on. SU has not announced a starting pitcher, but their last couple of midweeks they have started Harold Myles (7.50 ERA, 0-4, 24 IP, 9/14 BB/K) or Jarod Jarreau (12.71 ERA, 0-3, 11.1 IP, 16/9 BB/K) plus frequent substitutions from a pitching staff currently throwing with a 6.74 ERA. At the plate, the Jags are hitting .255 as a team with 7 HRs and they are 40 of 52 in stolen bases. Leadoff 3B Troy Lewis (.378 BA, .500 SLG, .467 OB, 1 HR) is the biggest threat. An interesting note from a box score: SU has 3 players with the last name of Williams who are not related and last mid-week they all started and batted back-to-back-to-back.
Southern's woeful RPI (ranked 296 out of 300) means that this game would be more valuable to LSU if it was canceled, but mother nature is giving us clear skies tonight. Here's hoping for a quick game where no one gets hurt.