But LSU has 18 SEC losses, tied for the most in school history, and will miss the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011, unless they win next week’s SEC Tournament.
With that in mind, winning this series against Florida is not the Tigers' main short-term priority.
Coach Jay Johnson manages every game to win, but with this series against the Gators, he will not go all out.
“We’re going to focus on this weekend’s series with an eye toward the SEC Tournament next week,” Johnson said. “We have to be mindful of keeping the team aware of staying in the moment, executing what is in front of you – the pitch, the game, state of mind. It’s my job to set up for what’s ahead, and that’s what I’m going to do.”
Johnson has not named a starting pitcher for the series opener. It’s possible he could be saving William Schmidt for the SEC Tournament, which begins next Tuesday in Hoover, Alabama.
Freshman right-hander Marcos Paz is set to start on Friday, and senior right-hander Zac Cowan will start for the Tigers.
Cowan (3-3, 4.97) will get one final start at Alex Box Stadium. He and Chris Stanfield will be playing their final games at LSU. Because of their contributions to the 2025 national championship team, they should receive a standing ovation or two.
Florida is not a great-hitting team, but they have been swinging the bats better lately. The Gators' team batting average is .271, which is 12th in the SEC. Senior outfielder Blake Cyr is the Gators' best hitter. He’s batting with .329 with 13 doubles, 11 homers, and 47 RBI.
Florida excels on the mound. They have a team ERA of 4.00 and a league-low 36 home runs.
Game one starter Aidan King is a candidate for SEC Pitcher of the Year. He’s 7-2 with a 2.19 ERA, 74 innings pitched, and 77 strikeouts.
Expect LSU to play a lot of different players, and they will not burn out any of their pitchers.
The Florida series means nothing; the Tigers are just preparing themselves to win five games in six days in Hoover.
Not impossible, but unlikely.
