Mainieri alters LSU rotation
Published 7:00 pm Friday, March 8, 2019
LSU plays its last tune-up weekend series of the year before Southeastern Conference play begins with a lot still to figure out.
Namely, head coach Paul Mainieri will be looking for strikes after tinkering with the rotation for the three-game set with Cal (6-4) out of the Pac-12. It’s the first meeting between the programs.
Except, maybe, when facing Cal’s Andrew Vaughn.
Trending
It might be better to walk the Bears’ first baseman.
Mainieri knows him well as he was a star on the USA Collegiate National team that he helped coach last summer.
“Andrew is a great hitter,” Mainieri said. “There’s no other way to put it, and he’s an even better person. He’s not making too many outs this year.”
Indeed, Vaughn is hitting .529 with seven home runs and 18 RBIs for the Bears, who are 4-0 on the road.
“I’m getting sick now,” Mainieri laughed, adding that he sent Vaughn a text this week begging, “My goodness, can you please cool down.”
Vaughn will do what he does.
Trending
But Mainieri is looking for his Tigers (9-3) to bounce back after an awful weekend at Texas last weekend, most notably on the mound. The Tigers were outscored 23-11 in the three-game sweep. He admitted they’re running out of time with the SEC opener against Kentucky next weekend.
“Our team’s mind-set is good,” he said. “We had a bad weekend in every way shape and form. It’s happened. It’s over with. Our whole focus is on Cal. I groom these guys to play one game at a time. You can’t play baseball any other way.”
In some way, the fourth weekend of the season will still see players auditioning, particularly the mound, where Mainieri said he is looking for better things out of Friday night starter Zack Hess (1-1, 5.68 ERA) and switching freshmen in the Saturday game.
“It’s a very, very important start for him,” Mainieri said of Hess, who gained fame two years ago as a closer, had an up-and-down season a year ago as a starter and has struggled this year in the Friday night role. “He really hasn’t had a good start this year.
“If you want to be a Friday night starter in the SEC, there’s pressure. I have all the confidence in the world Zack is going to go out there and meet this challenge head on.”
On Saturday, Cole Henry (0-0, 4.15) will start in place of fellow freshman Landon Marceaux, who pitched well his first two starts but lasted one out into the second inning before giving up six runs (and four walks) last weekend at Texas.
Henry had one of the few encouraging outings in Austin allowing one run in 3 1/3 innings of relief in Sunday’s game.
Mainieri said he was impressed with how Henry handled the pressure of a hostile environment. Marceaux (1-1, 8.53) will be available out of the bullpen tonight and will start Tuesday’s game at Northwestern State.
“Landon is going to be a great pitcher for us, and I’m certainly not giving up on him,” Mainieri said. “He very well could be back in the weekend rotation against Kentucky, but he needs another experience of pitching on the road in a hostile environment.”
Eric Walker (1-0, 5.40) will start again on Sunday as freshman Jaden Hill (1-0, 1.80) is a week or two away from being able to return to the mound, Mainieri said.
Pitching Matchups
7 p.m. Today
Cal, LH Arman Sabouri, 1-1, 2.79, 9 2/3 IP, 2 BB, 12 SO) vs. LSU, RH Zack Hess (1-1, 5.68 ERA, 12 2/3 IP, 8 BB, 16 SO)
3 p.m. Saturday
Cal, TBA vs. LSU, RH Cole Henry (0-0, 4.15 ERA, 8 2/3 IP, 4 BB, 10 SO)
Noon Sunday
Cal, RH Grant Holman (1-0, 3.29 ERA, 13 2/3 IP, 5 BB, 7 SO) vs. LSU, RH Eric Walker (1-0, 5.40 ERA, 10 IP, 3 BB, 6 SO)
California at LSU 7 p.m.
In this 2018 file photo, LSU pitcher Caleb Gilbert, right, receives a handshake from coach Paul Mainieri, center.
