The LSU baseball Tigers are back in action this weekend on the road against Kentucky. LSU is looking to reverse their poor start in SEC play against the Wildcats. The Tigers are a staggering 1 and 8 in conference play. If LSU is going to turn around the season, it will have to win this season.
Kentucky got off to a blistering start in the SEC going 5 and 2 in the first two weekends. UK is now 5 and 5 in conference play after getting swept Mississippi State last weekend. The first thing that jumps out about Kentucky is their team batting average of .288, which is third best in the conference. The Wildcats don't hit the long ball very often with just 27 home runs this season, compared to LSU who leads the SEC with 47 big flys.
To put it bluntly, LSU is not facing the likes of Vanderbilt or Mississippi State; this is a winnable series for the Tigers. Kentucky won't dazzle you with big arms on the mound and they won't run you off the field with offensive assault. UK is steady on the mound and on defense. As a staff they do a good job keeping hitters off balance. Big Blue's pitching staff is holding opposing teams to a .224 batting average.
This will be an evenly matched series with each game likely decided by one or two runs. LSU has to get the job done in crucial clutch moments if they are going to beat Kentucky. That's something that has plagued the Tigers so far. LSU also has to figure out who will replace Jaden Hill in the weekend rotation. The Tigers have the arms; look for Blake Money or Ty Floyd to possibly replace Hill in the rotation.
Coach Paul Mainieri has engineered some turnarounds in slow starts in the past. If the Tigers have any hope of playing in the post season that turnaround has to start this weekend against a very good Kentucky team.
