As we enter the third weekend of Big 12 play, some teams are playing as expected, while other teams have stumbled out of the gate. Texas A&M has bolted out of the gate, defeating Oklahoma in the opening weekend, then shutting down the Jayhawks in week two, giving up only three unearned runs all weekend. Texas is tied for second in the league, getting by on their strong pitching, while battling to overcome a weak offense. Dan Spencer has his Texas Tech squad in a good position, tied with the Longhorns for second place. The Red Raiders are the opposite of Texas, a potent offense with a question mark on the mound.
Preseason favorite Oklahoma has fallen into the bottom half of the league after losing their opening series to the Aggies, and splitting a pair of games with Missouri during the snowy weekend in Columbia. Oklahoma State and Baylor are .500 in conference play, along with Missouri. Pulling in the bottom of the league, Kansas and Nebraska have yet to win a series, while Kansas State has dropped five games, three by walkoffs.
This weekend will be a test for a few teams. Texas Tech and Oklahoma both have a lot to prove. The Red Raiders need to show they are a top three team, while the Sooners are looking to let people know their hot start wasn’t a fluke. Texas A&M can put Kansas State away with a series sweep, while Texas has a chance to make a strong push to recover from last weekend’s series loss to Oklahoma State, hosting Missouri. The Cowboys are coming off a strong series against Texas, and will face a Nebraska squad that flamed out in Lubbock after a 15-5 win in the series opener. Baylor and Kansas are both strong, and will have a fierce battle in Lawrence.
Texas Tech (17-8, 4-2) vs. #7 Oklahoma (19-6, 2-1)
Probable Starters:
Friday April 1
Texas Tech: RHP David Paiz (3-0, 4.15 ERA)
Oklahoma: RHP Michael Rocha (6-0, 0.96 ERA)
Saturday April 2
Texas Tech: RHP Trey Masek (1-1, 3.67 ERA)
Oklahoma: TBA
Sunday April 3
Texas Tech: LHP Robbie Kilcrease (3-0, 4.21 ERA)
Oklahoma: TBA
Prediction: Texas Tech 2-1
#6 Texas A&M (20-5, 5-1) vs. Kansas State (15-9, 1-5)
Probable Starters:
Friday April 1
Texas A&M: RHP John Stilson (1-1, 1.05 ERA)
Kansas State: LHP Kyle Hunter (2-1, 2.45 ERA)
Saturday April 2
Texas A&M: RHP Michael Wacha (4-1, 0.60 ERA)
Kansas State: RHP Matt Applegate (3-1, 2.89 ERA)
Sunday April 3
Texas A&M: RHP Ross Stripling (5-1, 0.76 ERA)
Kansas State: RHP Kayvon Bahramzadeh (1-0, 3.43 ERA)
Prediction: Texas A&M 3-0
Oklahoma State (19-6, 3-3) vs. Nebraska (18-9, 1-2)
Probable Starters
Friday April 1
Oklahoma State: LHP Mike Strong (2-0, 1.05 ERA)
Nebraska: RHP Matt Freeman (4-1, 1.77 ERA)
Saturday April 2
Oklahoma State: RHP Brad Propst (4-1, 1.51 ERA)
Nebraska: RHP Jon Keller (2-2, 2.70 ERA)
Sunday April 3
Oklahoma State: LHP Andrew Heaney (3-1, 2.65 ERA)
Nebraska: RHP Dylan Vogt (1-0, 3.75 ERA)
Prediction: Nebraska 2-1
Missouri (13-12, 1-1) vs. #8 Texas (18-7, 4-2)
Probable Starters:
Friday April 1
Missouri: LHP Rob Zastryzny (2-2, 2.65 ERA)
Texas: RHP Taylor Jungmann (5-0, 0.52 ERA)
Saturday April 2
Missouri: RHP Matt Stites (1-1, 4.08 ERA)
Texas: LHP Hoby Milner (2-1, 2.30 ERA)
Sunday April 3
Missouri: LHP Zack Hardoin (2-3, 3.86 ERA)
Texas: RHP Cole Green (1-2, 4.05 ERA)
Prediction: Texas 3-0
Baylor (16-10, 3-3) vs. Kansas (10-14, 2-4)
Probable Starters:
Friday April 1
Baylor: RHP Logan Verrett (3-1, 3.44 ERA)
Kansas: RHP T. J. Walz (2-3, 4.15 ERA)
Saturday April 2
Baylor: LHP Josh Turley (1-1, 4.18 ERA)
Kansas: RHP Tanner Poppe (1-3, 3.24 ERA)
Sunday April 3
Baylor: RHP Trent Blank (1-1, 5.79 ERA)
Kansas: RHP Alex Cox (0-2, 3.81 ERA)
Prediction: Kansas 2-1
