Arkansas baseball vs. LSU: Scouting report, prediction for top-10 matchup in SEC
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas baseball will welcome the defending national champions to Baum-Walker Stadium this weekend in a top-10 showdown.
The No. 1 Razorbacks (20-2, 5-1 SEC) host No. 7 LSU (20-6, 2-4) Thursday night to kickoff a key three-game series between division rivals, and Arkansas has an opportunity to open up a significant lead over the Tigers in the league standings.
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The Hogs are coming off a road series win over Auburn last weekend, while LSU dropped the final two games in a series loss to No. 6 Florida. LSU also lost a road series against No. 23 Mississippi State earlier this season.
Below is one thing to watch for Arkansas, a more detailed look at LSU and a series prediction.
Can Brady Tygart bounce back?
Tygart has struggled with his control in two SEC starts, walking nine batters across 8 1/3 innings pitched. He's limited the damage thanks to 11 strikeouts, but Auburn scored three runs in four innings and handed Tygart his worst start of the season.
Tygart's numbers (3-0, 1.59 ERA) are still tremendous, but the Razorbacks need him to work deeper into games in conference action. Dave Van Horn had no choice but to use Gabe Gaeckle and Cooper Dossett twice against Auburn, and both bullpen arms struggled in the series finale during their second appearances.
Van Horn said Wednesday that Tygart will move back in the weekend rotation so he can get a little more rest. Mason Molina will start game two, with Tygart throwing in the series finale.
LSU baseball players to watch
Hitters: Tommy White is the household name, and he's slashing .321/.411/.557 with sevn home runs and 23 RBIs, but the Tigers have two equally formidable bats at the top of the lineup.
Hayden Travinski leads the team with a .333 batting average, 26 runs and 27 RBIs. The catcher hits fourth, while Jared Jones has a team-high 10 home runs out of the three-hole.
But overall, it's been a disappointing start to the season for the LSU offense. The Tigers rank ninth in the SEC in home runs and and 10th in scoring after leading the conference in both categories last year.
Pitchers: Game one Thursday night was supposed to present one of the best pitching matchups in the country, but LSU moved its ace Luke Holman (5-1, 0.78) back to Friday's game two. It's still to be determined who Arkansas' Hagen Smith (4-0, 1.24 ERA) will face in the series opener
Gage Jump (2-0, 2.38) has been terrific as LSU's second pitcher and will throw in the finale, but Thatcher Hurd (1-3, 7.09) hasn't been able to replicate his success from last year's College World Series and isn't listed in the weekend rotation. Seven different LSU pitchers have at least one save.
Prediction: Arkansas wins series 2-1
LSU will be desperate for a winning weekend after dropping each of its first two SEC series, but the Razorbacks should capitalize on a home-field advantage and ride their dominant pitching past the Tigers.
This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Arkansas baseball vs. LSU: Scouting report, prediction
