The SEC enters their fifth week of play with South Carolina leading the East Division by one game over Florida while Arkansas leads the west by one game over LSU. The marquee series this weekend sees the South Carolina Gamecocks hosting the Ole Miss Rebels. We also see LSU hosting Alabama, Georgia going to Arkansas, Auburn at Vanderbilt, Florida at Kentucky and Tennessee at Mississippi State. The best pitching matchup of the weekend is on Friday night between Ole Miss LHP Drew Pomeranz and South Carolina’s Blake Cooper.
Alabama (22-12, 5-7 SEC) at LSU (27-6, 8-4 SEC)
Players to Watch
Alabama: Taylor Dugas (.425 BA, .566 SLG %, 13-17 SB)
LSU: Micah Gibbs (.407 BA, 5 HR, 33 RBI)
Pitchers to Watch
Alabama: Tyler White (3-2, 15 APP, 2.92 ERA)
LSU: Anthony Ranaudo (1-0, 2.40 ERA, .173 BAA)
Probable Starting Pitchers
FRIDAY (7 p.m. CT) Bama So. LHP Adam Morgan (4-1, 3.97 ERA) vs LSU Jr. RHP Anthony Ranaudo (1-0, 2.40 ERA)
SATURDAY (7 p.m. CT) Bama So. RHP Tyler White (3-2, 2.92 ERA) vs LSU So. RHP Joey Bourgeois (3-1, 6.16 ERA)
SUNDAY (1 p.m. CT) Bama Jr. RHP Jimmy Nelson (4-1, 3.40 ERA) vs LSU So. LHP Chris Matulis (5-1, 3.82 ERA)
Predictions
Brian Foley: LSU 2-1
Allen Kha: LSU 2-1
Alabama Series Notes
LSU Series Notes
Georgia (11-22, 3-9 SEC) at Arkansas (28-6, 9-3 SEC)
Players to Watch
Georgia: Zach Cone (.376 BA, 8 HR, 34 RBI)
Arkansas: Zack Cox (.442 BA, 6 HR, 39 RBI)
Pitchers to Watch
Georgia: Justin Grimm (2-4, 4.04 ERA, .228 BAA)
Arkansas: Drew Smyly (4-0, 1.99 ERA, 45/22 K/BB ratio)
Probable Starting Pitchers
FRIDAY (6 p.m. CT) UGA Jr. RHP Justin Grimm (2-4, 4.04 ERA) vs Ark So. LHP Drew Smyly (4-0, 1.99 ERA)
SATURDAY (2 p.m. CT) UGA Sr. RHP Jeff Walters (1-2, 7.34 ERA) vs Ark Jr. RHP Brett Eibner (2-2, 3.76 ERA)
SUNDAY (1 p.m. CT) UGA So. RHP Michael Palazzone (4-3, 7.34 ERA) vs Ark TBA
Predictions
Brian Foley: Arkansas 2-1
Allen Kha: Arkansas 3-0
Georgia Series Notes
Arkansas Series Notes
Auburn (23-11, 7-5 SEC) at Vanderbilt (27-8, 6-6 SEC)
Players to Watch
Auburn: Hunter Morris (.408 BA, 10 HR, 41 RBI)
Vanderbilt: Jason Esposito (.333 BA, 7 HR, 40 RBI)
Pitchers to Watch
Auburn: Austin Hubbard (3-1, 3 SV, 2.86 ERA, .229 BAA)
Vanderbilt: Sonny Gray (4-4, 2.44 ERA, .208 BAA)
Probable Starting Pitchers
FRIDAY (6 p.m. CT) AU Jr. LHP Cole Nelson (4-2, 4.61 ERA) vs VU So. RHP Sonny Gray (4-4, 2.44 ERA)
SATURDAY (2 p.m. CT) AU TBA vs VU So. RHP Jack Armstrong (5-0, 3.43 ERA)
SUNDAY (1 p.m. CT) AU Jr. LHP Grant Dayton (4-1, 5.18 ERA) vs VU Jr. RHP Taylor Hill (3-3, 3.51 ERA)
Predictions
Brian Foley: Auburn 2-1
Allen Kha: Vandy 2-1
Auburn Series Notes
Vanderbilt Series Notes
Florida (23-9, 8-4 SEC) at Kentucky (21-12, 4-8 SEC)
Players to Watch
Florida: Preston Tucker (.353 BA, 4 HR, 24 RBI)
Florida: Austin Maddox (.353 BA, 9 HR, 37 RBI)
Kentucky: Chad Wright (.373 BA, 27 RBI)
Pitchers to Watch
Florida: Alex Panteliodis (6-1, 1.91 ERA, .210 BAA)
Kentucky: Logan Darnell (3-2, 4.62 ERA)
Probable Starting Pitchers
FRIDAY (7 p.m. ET) UF So. LHP Alex Panteliodis (6-1, 1.91 ERA) vs UK Jr. LHP Logan Darnell (3-2, 4.62 ERA)
SATURDAY (7 p.m. ET) UF Fr. RHP Hudson Randall (3-3, 3.98 ERA) vs UK Fr. LHP Taylor Rogers (4-3, 4.86 ERA)
SUNDAY (1 p.m. ET) UF TBA vs UK TBA
Prediction
Brian Foley: Florida 2-1
Allen Kha: Florida 2-1
Florida Series Notes
Kentucky Series Notes
Tennessee (17-17, 3-9 SEC) at Mississippi State (17-16, 3-9 SEC)
Players to Watch
Tennessee: P.J. Polk (.361 BA, 7 HR, 28 RBI, 17-21 SB)
Mississippi State: Connor Powers (.383, 9 HR, 47 RBI)
Pitchers to Watch
Tennessee: Stephen McCray (4-3, 1.99 ERA, .207 BAA)
Mississippi State: Greg Houston (4-0, 2.65 ERA, 13 APP)
Probable Starting Pitchers
FRIDAY (6:30 p.m. CT) UT Jr. LHP Bryan Morgado (2-4, 5.07 ERA) vs MSU So. RHP Caleb Reed (0-3, 4.79 ERA)
SATURDAY (1 p.m. CT) UT Sr. RHP Stephen McCray (4-3, 1.99 ERA) vs MSU Fr. RHP Chris Stratton (3-3, 3.43 ERA)
SUNDAY (1:30 p.m. CT) UT So. LHP Steven Gruver (1-2, 5.51 ERA) vs MSU TBA
Prediction
Brian Foley: Mississippi State 2-1
Allen Kha: Mississippi State 2-1
Tennessee Series Notes
Mississippi State Series Notes
Ole Miss (23-11, 7-5 SEC) at South Carolina (26-7, 9-3 SEC)
Players to Watch
Ole Miss: Zach Miller (.352 BA, 1 HR, 36 RBI, 6-7 SB)
South Carolina: Whit Merrifield (.341, 7 HR, 24 RBI)
Pitchers to Watch
Ole Miss: Drew Pomeranz (6-0, 1.57 ERA, 80/20 K/BB ratio)
South Carolina: Blake Cooper (6-0. 2.85 ERA, .195 BAA)
Probable Starting Pitchers
FRIDAY (7 p.m. ET) OM Jr. LHP Drew Pomeranz (6-0, 1.57 ERA) vs USC Sr. RHP Blake Cooper (6-0, 2.85 ERA)
SATURDAY (3 p.m. ET) OM Sr. RHP Aaron Barrett (6-1, 1.90 ERA) vs USC Jr. RHP Sam Dyson (2-2, 5.87 ERA)
SUNDAY (1:30 p.m. ET) OM TBA vs USC Sr. RHP Jay Brown (2-0, 2.84 ERA)
Prediction
Brian Foley: USC 2-1
Allen Kha: USC 2-1
Ole Miss Series Notes
South Carolina Series Notes
