Alex Lange will start the series opener against Alabama on Friday. Jared Poche will start Saturday and John Valek on Sunday.
There is a worry about using up the bullpen too soon in the weekend if Poche starts Friday. Poche looks like a six-inning pitcher. Paul Mainieri would rather save his bullpen in the first game and have fresh arms for the next two games. Lange can go deep into the game.
LSU cannot afford a postponement this weekend because the series with Texas A&M series begins Thursday next week. If a doubleheader is played Saturday, neither of the starting pitchers in those games would have enough rest to start on Thursday. Therefore, the Tigers would be forced to use a fourth starter in that game. Therefore, look for LSU to do everything possible to play the games as scheduled even though bad weather is in the forecast Friday.
Starting third baseman O'Neal Lochridge has a stress fracture in his back. He will be out indefinitely. Chris Reid has been starting at third base since Lochridge has been out. Other possibilities are Trey Dawson and Greg Deichmann.
There is a worry about using up the bullpen too soon in the weekend if Poche starts Friday. Poche looks like a six-inning pitcher. Paul Mainieri would rather save his bullpen in the first game and have fresh arms for the next two games. Lange can go deep into the game.
LSU cannot afford a postponement this weekend because the series with Texas A&M series begins Thursday next week. If a doubleheader is played Saturday, neither of the starting pitchers in those games would have enough rest to start on Thursday. Therefore, the Tigers would be forced to use a fourth starter in that game. Therefore, look for LSU to do everything possible to play the games as scheduled even though bad weather is in the forecast Friday.
Starting third baseman O'Neal Lochridge has a stress fracture in his back. He will be out indefinitely. Chris Reid has been starting at third base since Lochridge has been out. Other possibilities are Trey Dawson and Greg Deichmann.
