Series Preview: Gators Wire heads south for annual Florida-Miami matchup

The rivalry between Florida and Miami rarely disappoints, especially over a three-game series on the baseball diamond.

Florida enters the game ranked No. 4 in the land, and Miami is off to a 5-2 start under first-year head coach J.D. Arteaga. The series will take place in Coral Gables. That means Mark Light shakes and, hopefully, some Gators wins.

The last time Florida traveled down to South Florida, the Gators dropped the Friday night game, 5-2, and the next two guys by a combined score of 19-4. A Florida sweep this weekend would tie the all-time series at 130 games apiece, but it’s hard to win on the road.

Of course, Kevin O’Sullivan has Florida rolling to start 2024, despite two out-of-character non-conference losses. This will be the first major test for the weekend staff and the series outcome should have top-25 implications.

Gators Wire will be at Mark Light Field at Alex Rodriguez Park all weekend for live coverage. Follow @DavidRosenbergg and @GatorsWire on Twitter for more.

Here is everything you need to know about the weekend series.

Projected Starting Lineup

Probable Starters: Friday (7 p.m. ET)

NOTES: Cade Fisher looked much better against Columbia than he did against St. John’s, but this will be a his first big game as the Friday night starter for the Orange and Blue. Many pointed to nerves as a reason for his poor outing on opening night. He’ll have to control those emotions on the road in front of a raucous crowd.

Florida got Ziehl last year in Gainesville and put up six earned runs on nine hits through five innings. Wyatt Langford provided three hits and three RBIs in that game, but the rest of the damage was done by returning players — Jac Caglianone, Ty Evans and Cade Kurland.

Ziehl had ups and downs on opening night this year against NJIT, but things were a bit sharper against Long Island University.

Probable Starters: Saturday (3 p.m. ET)

NOTES: Liam Peterson has been Florida’s best pitcher this season, and there’s no arguing that point. The question is whether his stuff will play as well against elite competition. Facing Miami early in his collegiate career will be a nice test.

Rafe Schlesinger was out when Florida and Miami met up last year, but the coaching staff saw him twice out of the bullpen in 2022. He’s been elite for Miami so far this season, allowing just one earned run (two total) on 11 hits over as many innings. Schlesinger’s strikeout rate is up to 34.0% early and he walks just 6.4% of batters he faces. Leaving men on base against him is a death sentence.

Probable Starters: Sunday (1 p.m. ET)

NOTES: Jac Caglianone only went three innings on Sunday against Columbia. He allowed four base runners (two hits, two walks) and three earned runs but still struck out seven. Perhaps they aren’t efficient outs, but no one has ever denied Cags’ stuff. It’s the consistency that remains a question mark.

Herrick Hernandez is a JUCO transfer who’s been great for Miami as the Sunday starter this year. He’s gone six innings in both of his starts this season, leaving the game with a no-hitter in the first and allowing just five hits in the second. His strikeout rate is even higher than Schlesinger’s at 38.6, so Florida is going to have figure out good pitching all weekend long.

Other Players to Watch

Freshman Daniel Cuvet and sophomore Jason Torres have both started the season on a tear. Cuvet is slashing .606/.667/1.242 and Torres is .528/.550/1.028; perhaps the only viable downside to the duo is that neither walks particularly often.

Then again, they are usually sending the ball into orbit instead. It’s pretty easy to guess which a coach prefers. Both have five home runs on the year, but Cuvet has a one-RBI lead over Torres.

Dealing with this duo is going to be a nightmare for Florida pitchers, especially the freshmen arms.

Series History

NOTES: Florida last swept this series in 2020 when it was played in Coral Gables.

Follow the Action

FRIDAY (7 p.m. ET)

• Watch: ACC Network X

• Listen: ESPN 98.1FM/850AM WRUF

• Live Stream: fuboTV (try it free)

SATURDAY (3 p.m. ET): 

• Watch: ACC Network 

• Listen: ESPN 98.1FM/850AM WRUF

• Live Stream: fuboTV (try it free)

SUNDAY (1 p.m. ET): 

• Watch: ACC Network X

• Listen: ESPN 98.1FM/850AM WRUF

• Live Stream: fuboTV (try it free)

* Watch links go directly to game feed

Predictions

GAME 1: Florida 8-7

GAME 2: Florida, 6-3

GAME 3: Miami, 8-7

Pulling off the sweep this weekend would be mighty impressive, but winning three games on the road against a good team is tough. Fisher and Caglianone might have trouble with some of these bats, and its typically not a great sign when a true freshman is the best on the staff.

This is going to be a battle. Every inning, every pitch matters.

Series Prediction: Florida takes two of three in Coral Gables, 2-1.

Read more

Florida Baseball Four-Bagger: Gators rebound in Week 2 action

Florida RHP Liam Peterson named SEC Co-Freshman of the Week

Follow

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Story originally appeared on Gators Wire