Weekend Preview: Mizzou

After LSU dropped a complete and total dud against Southern Tuesday night, the Tigers will (technically) continue their road swing with a trip to the most far flung corner of the observable universe, Columbia, Missouri, for a weekend set against Mizzou.

Game Times and Pitching Matchups

Game 1: Friday, 6:30 p.m., SEC Network+, 98.1 FM

LSU: Zack Hess, JR RHP (3.71 ERA, 43.2 IP, 2.10 K/BB [44/21])

MIZZ: Jacob Cantleberry, JR LHP (2.62 ERA, 44.2 IP, 3.59 K/BB [61/17])

Game 2: Saturday, 5:00 p.m., SECN+, 98.1

LSU: Cole Henry, FR RHP (3.55 ERA, 38 IP, 4.30 K/BB [43/10])

MIZZ: TJ Sikkema, FR LHP (1.27 ERA, 49.2 IP, 3.60 K/BB [54/15])

Game 3: Sunday, 12:00 p.m., SEC Network, 98.1

LSU: Eric Walker, SO RHP (4.86 ERA, 33.1 IP, 1.92 K/BB [25/13])

MIZZ: TBA

At A Glance

Record: 23-11-1

NC: 18-5

SEC: 5-6-1

RPI: 26

SOS: 164

RPI 50: 5-6-1

RPI 25: 3-5-1

LSU and Mizzou have (nearly) identical records, but their 23-11s are two different 23-11s.

The third Tigers spent the first two weeks of the season in Florida, playing North Florida and Rhode Island, dropping the first series and picking up the second. Mizzou returned home to sweep Northwestern before getting swept by Arkansas to open conference play.

Mizzou then shocked Ole Miss with a series win and played Texas A&M to the Devil’s Split due to a Sunday travel curfew, representing the tie in their record. Last weekend, Mizzou took a series from Kentucky.

So what we have is a super hot and cold team (literally). LSU’s success this weekend somewhat depends on what Mizzou team shows up, the ones that opened the season and SEC play or the ones that beat Ole Miss and drew Texas A&M?

At The Plate

Notables

Chris Cornelius: .338/.496/.422, 45 H, 6 2B, 5 HR, 32 RBI, 1.11 K/BB (21/19)

Peter Zimmerman: .313/.518/,412, 26 H, 5 2B, 4 HR, 19 RBI, 1.90 K/BB (19/10)

Josh Holt Jr: .303/.409/.413, 20 H, 4 2B, 1 HR, 11 RBI, 2.43 K/BB (17/7)

Kameron Misner: .266/.484/.459, 33 H, 3 2B, 8 HR, 23 RBI, .833 K/BB (35/42)

Mizzou is a decent enough hitting team, somewhat similar to LSU. They’re not going to bash you over the head but they have 6-7 guys in the lineup that can put together good at bats that grind down pitchers.

Chris Cornelius is the best batter in the lineup, and if LSU can eliminate him then their job should be pretty easy. Still have three or four other bats to worry about, but he’s certainly the biggest threat.

Misner is the big power threat, the team leader in home runs by three over Cornelius. Like a true power hitter though, he’s a little feast or famine and not a lot of ground in between.

On The Mound

Notables

Ian Bedell: 1.25 ERA, .849 WHIP, 21.2 IP, 6.33 K/BB (19/3), .192 BAA, 2 SV

Jordan Gubelman: 1.50 ERA, .875 WHIP, 24 IP, 5.60 K/BB (28/5), 195 BAA, 1 SV

Cameron Dulle 2.04 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 2.08 K/BB (25/12), .172 BAA, 3 SV

Tyler LaPlante: 2.38 ERA, .954 WHIP, 4.25 K/BB (34/8), .212 BAA

Mizzou has a good pen, and more importantly they have a deep pen. The Tigers have nearly 100 more runs than their opponents not because they score a lot, let’s put it like that. The Tigers have seven pitchers with over 17 IP and a sub-3.00 ERA. LSU has four, by comparison.

The Tigers feel comfortable closing by committee, so whoever is available and ready to pitch will be their leverage guy. Don’t expect to key in on any one guy.

I will say, if he’s healthy I’d expect Tyler LaPlante on Sunday if Mizzou wants to go with the all-lefty rotation.

Prediction

I honestly feel worse about this than when I sat down to write. I can easily see LSU’s offense being super frustrated with the pitching staff, but I also believe that LSU can easily return the favor.

Show me ole faithful, 2-1 LSU.