It’s here — the division one college baseball season is finally upon us as teams across the country will take the field for the first time this weekend.
This year it feels a lot different
While Vanderbilt is pretty much the consensus favorite, they’re not as clear cut as Florida and Oregon State were the past two seasons.
I feel like just about any team in our top 12-15 could win the College World Series this year, and that should make for a very entertaining and exciting season.
Our number one team will have a tough test to start the season, as will a number of teams in our top 40. Let’s get into some of the matchups to keep an eye on in week one.
1.MLB4 Collegiate Baseball Tournament (Vanderbilt, Virginia, TCU, and CSFU)
This season-opening event put on by Major League Baseball includes three teams in our top 40, including number one Vanderbilt. It also features Cal State Fullerton, who is ranked in some top 25 polls. The Friday night game between Vandy and Virginia will be televised on MLB Network at 6 p.m. CT. But honestly, this weekend is about the three teams facing Vandy. All have question marks coming into the season, and they’ll have an early chance to prove themselves.
2. Louisville vs. UConn: Fri. – 6 pm CT; Sat. 3 pm CT; Sun 1 pm CT)
I really hope I find a way to stream this series online as it’s my favorite series of the weekend. I am really high on Louisville this year putting them in my top five. UConn is a top 25 team for some, but I have them at 34. They can really prove something to me out of the gate by taking two-of-three from Louisville. Will see if Mason Feole and the Huskies can slow down that Cardinal lineup.
3. UCLA vs. St. John’s: Fri. – 6 pm PT; Sat. 2 pm PT; Sun. 1 pm PT
This is very similar to the Louisville-UConn matchup as you have a top five team in UCLA going up a fringe top 40 team in St. John’s. I really love the pitching for St. John’s with Sean Mooney and Jeff Belge at the top. It will be very interesting to see how they do going up against a powerful UCLA lineup led by Chase Strumpf and Michael Toglia.
4. UC Irvine vs. Washington: Fri. 6 pm PT; Sat. 6 pm PT; Sun. 1 pm PT
This series is very intriguing as well because a lot of people are high on UC Irvine than I am. In our top 40 rankings I have Washington at 25 and UC Irvine at 40. Washington is coming off a great 2018 season reaching the College World Series. Joe Wainhouse returns to lead the Huskie lineup, while Jordan Jones will lead the weekend rotation. UCI does have one of the best starters in the country with Andre Pallante who leads a deep pitching staff. Again, it will be fun to see if the pitching is ahead of the offense early in the season. If so, that favors UCI this weekend.
Other series to keep an eye:
Sanderson Ford College Baseball Classic (Oregon St, New Mexico, Gonzaga, Minnesota)
Ole Miss-Wright State
Clemson-South Alabama
Southern Miss-Purdue
Florida-LBSU
