We’ve officially reached the halfway point of the SEC baseball season.

And now, for the first time all year, we have real information.

Five full weeks of conference play gives us a true sample size—not just of individual performances, but of how pitching staffs are being built, deployed, and trusted in high-leverage situations. You can start to see which programs are separating themselves, not just by talent, but by how they’re using that talent.

Some teams are still relying on traditional Friday–Saturday–Sunday structures. Others are mixing and matching, leaning on swing arms, or asking certain starters to simply get them through key pockets of a lineup before turning the game over.

That’s where this thing starts to evolve.

So while this week we’re locking in the Top 25 starting pitchers in the SEC, next week we’re going to zoom out and rank the entire pitching staffs 1–16, breaking down usage, depth, roles, and projecting how those staffs will hold up over the second half of the season.

Because at this point, it’s not just about who the best arms are.

It’s about which staffs are built to win series.

Top 25 SEC Starting Pitchers

1. Aidan King — Florida (↑ from No. 4)

Season: 5-2, 1.74 ERA, 46.2 IP, 33 H, 47K / 11BB
Past Week: 7.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 6 K

Aidan King continued his dominance of the SEC and stepped into the Friday night role in a pivotal weekend for Florida.

Going into Athens against Georgia, in his first Friday night start of the year after moving from Saturday, he was perfect through six innings. He ended up going seven and two-thirds, allowing just two hits and two runs with two walks and six strikeouts.

On the season, he’s now 5-2 with a 1.74 ERA in 46 and two-thirds innings, allowing just 33 hits with a 47-to-11 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

He continues to look like a true stopper at the top of that rotation.

2. Andreas Alvarez — Auburn (↑ from No. 3)

Season: 6-1, 1.24 ERA, 43.2 IP, 30 H, 60K / 15BB
Past Week: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 5 K

Andreas Alvarez had another solid outing and continues to show consistency every single week.

Against a good Kentucky team, in a game where Auburn gave him early run support, he went six innings, allowed just three hits and two runs, walked three, and struck out five.

On the season, he’s now 6-1 with a 1.24 ERA, and in 43 and two-thirds innings, he’s allowed just 30 hits with a 60-to-15 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

He just continues to put Auburn in position to win late in games.

3. Cade Townsend — Ole Miss (↑ from No. 7)

Season: 3-1, 2.02 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 35.1 IP, 27 H, 54K / 8BB
Past Week: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 8 K

Cade Townsend makes another jump this week and continues to put everything together.

We’ve talked about him all year—his stuff, his profile, his upside at the next level—and now the production is matching it consistently. Against LSU this weekend, he went six innings, allowed six hits and two runs, struck out eight, and walked just one.

On the year, he’s 3-1 with a 2.02 ERA, a 0.98 WHIP, and in 35 and a third innings, he’s allowed just 27 hits with a 54-to-8 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

If not for the brief injury hiccup earlier in the season, he’d be right there at the top of almost every statistical category in the SEC.

4. Jake Marciano — Auburn (↓ from No. 2)

Season: 3-2, 1.88 ERA, 0.78 WHIP, 52.1 IP, 34 H, 71K / 7BB
Past Week: 4.0 IP, 8 H, 5 R (4 ER), 0 BB, 7 K

Jake Marciano drops a bit this week, but this is one where you can’t overreact.

Even after allowing eight hits and five runs (four earned) in four innings against Kentucky, his body of work still speaks for itself. He still struck out seven and didn’t walk a batter.

On the year, he’s 3-2 with a 1.88 ERA and a 0.78 WHIP in over 52 innings. He’s allowed just 34 hits and has a 71-to-7 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Even in his toughest outing of the year, he didn’t give free passes—just got hit a little bit. That’s the first time a team has really gotten to him, and it’s not enough to move him too far.

5. Tomas Valincius — Mississippi State (↓ from No. 1)

Season: 6-1, 1.53 ERA, 53 IP, 36 H, 72K / 12BB
Past Week: 6.0 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 6 K

Tomas Valincinus comes in at number five after another solid outing, even though he gave up a few more hits and runs than we’ve seen.

He went six innings, allowed eight hits and three runs, walked one, and struck out six. While that’s a step back from his usual dominance, it doesn’t change the overall profile.

On the year, he’s 6-1 with a 1.53 ERA in 53 innings, allowing just 36 hits with a 72-to-12 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

He continues to look like a true number one starter with elite stuff and a high draft profile, even as Mississippi State has struggled a bit around him.

6. Hunter Dietz — Arkansas (↑ from No. 10)

Season: 3-2, 3.61 ERA — 47.1 IP, 37 H, 78K / 17BB
Past Week: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 9 K

Hunter Dietz moves into the Friday night spot for Arkansas and continues to trend in the right direction.

He’s been pretty solid all year, originally as their Saturday starter, and has been near the top of the league in strikeouts all season. We’ve never questioned the stuff—it’s always just been about whether he could command it consistently.

Now, it looks like he’s really starting to gel and put it together at the halfway point. This weekend, he went six innings, allowed three hits and two runs, walked three, and struck out nine.

On the year, he’s 3-2 in 47 and a third innings, has allowed 37 hits, and has a 78-to-17 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He’s starting to look like a true ace for Arkansas down the stretch.

7. Jaxon Jelkin — Kentucky (↓ from No. 5)

Season: 6-1, 3.38 ERA — 50.2 IP, 45 H, 57K / 13BB
Past Week: 2.0 IP, 7 H, 8 R (3 ER), 3 BB, 3 K

Jelkin drops a bit after his first real tough outing of the year.

It was a rough one—two innings, seven hits, eight runs—but even then, only three of those runs were earned. Despite that outing, the overall body of work still stands strong, and he remains one of the more impressive arms in the league.

He’s here because of that body of work, but also because of the upside. The way he carries himself, the way he competes, and the way he looks on the mound—he looks like a big leaguer every time he takes the ball.

On the year, he’s 6-1 with a 3.38 ERA in over 50 innings and continues to be a key piece for Kentucky.

8. Joey Volchko — Georgia (↑ from No. 16)

Season: 6-1, 3.38 ERA — 45.1 IP, 41 H, 49K / 21BB
Past Week: 6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R (0 ER), 2 BB, 7 K

Joey Volchko continues to give Georgia a solid Friday night presence, and now everyone who thinks I hate Joey, can get off my back since he’s in the top ten!

He went six innings against Florida, allowed just two hits, one run (unearned), and struck out seven. He also did a better job limiting base runners, which has been a focus on him all year, for me.

Even in a loss, going head-to-head with Aiden King, he gave Georgia a chance to win. With that offense, that’s exactly what they need and he has put together a couple solid outings in a row now where his stats are lining up with his stuff.

9. Amp Phillips — South Carolina (↑ from outside Top 25)

Season: 3-4, 2.17 ERA, 1.11 WHIP — 49.1 IP, 33 H, 56K / 22BB
Past Week: 8.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 10 K

Amp Phillips makes a big jump after a dominant performance this weekend.

On the road at Missouri, in a sweep for South Carolina, he went eight innings, struck out 10, allowed just five hits, and didn’t give up a run. That’s one of the better outings we’ve seen this season.

The body of work has been solid all year, even on a South Carolina team that hasn’t been at the top of the standings. On the year, he’s got a 2.17 ERA and continues to show really impressive stuff.

It was all on display this weekend, and he continues to trend in a really strong direction.

10. Taylor Rabe — Ole Miss (↑ into Top 10)

Season: 3-1, 3.16 ERA, 0.93 WHIP — 31 IP, 24 H, 37K / 5BB
Past Week: 6.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 5 K

Taylor Rabe jumps into the top 10 and continues to solidify Ole Miss’s rotation.

In Game 3 against LSU, he was dominant early—didn’t give up a hit through six innings, before running into a little trouble in the seventh. He finished with six innings, two hits, two runs, one walk, and five strikeouts.

It’s pretty scary that all three Ole Miss starters are showing up at this level right now.

On the year, he’s 3-1 with a 3.16 ERA and a 0.93 WHIP, and continues to transition from the bullpen into a starting role. The stuff is some of the most electric in the league, and he’s starting to harness it.

11. Alex Petrovic — Auburn (↑ from No. 15)

Season: 6-1, 2.66 ERA, 0.93 WHIP — 47 IP, 35 H, 53K / 9BB
Past Week: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K

Alex Petrovic continues to be a dominant force on Sundays for Auburn.

He went seven innings this weekend, gave up five hits, didn’t allow a run, had eight strikeouts, and didn’t walk a batter. He just continues to fill up the zone and rack up wins on the weekends for Auburn.

On the season, he’s 6-1 with a 2.66 ERA and a 0.93 WHIP in 47 innings, allowing just 35 hits with a 53-to-9 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

12. Dylan Vigue — Georgia (↑ from No. 18)

Season: 3-1, 2.63 ERA, 1.15 WHIP — 41 IP, 23 H, 49K / 24BB
Past Week: 6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 7 K

Dylan Vigue continues to solidify himself in Georgia’s rotation.

He’s bounced back and forth as a swing guy, but it looks like he’s locking into that number two starter role. This weekend, he went six innings, allowed just two hits and one run, struck out seven, and walked three against Florida.

On the season, he’s 3-1 with a 2.63 ERA and has allowed just 23 hits in 41 innings. He’s made the transition from the Big Ten to the SEC really well.

13. Ruger Riojas — Texas (↓ from No. 6)

Season: 4-1, 3.40 ERA — 47.2 IP, 41 H, 72K / 11BB
Past Week: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 2 BB, 4 K

Ruger Riojas drops again after a second straight outing where he got hit around a bit.

This weekend, he went five innings, allowed five hits and five runs, walked two, and struck out four. His ERA has now jumped to 3.40 on the year.

Even with that, he still limits base runners overall and continues to profile as an elite Friday night guy for Texas, but this is the first stretch all year where we’ve seen some vulnerability.

14. Tyler Fay — Alabama (↓ from No. 13)

Season: 6-2, 3.79 ERA — 54.2 IP, 36 H, 63K / 14BB
Past Week: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 4 K

Tyler Fay continues to be a very strong number one option for Alabama.

Even in a weekend where they got swept, Fay did his job. He went six innings, allowed just four hits and one run, walked two, and struck out four.

On the season, he’s thrown over 54 innings, allowed just 36 hits, and has a 63-to-14 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He continues to look the part of a Friday night starter.

15. Liam Peterson — Florida (↑ from No. 22)

Season: 1-2, 3.60 ERA, 1.36 WHIP — 45 IP, 36 H, 66K / 25BB
Past Week: 7.0 IP, 8 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 4 K

Liam Peterson had a really nice bounce-back outing this weekend.

In his first Saturday start for Florida against a really good Georgia offense, he went seven innings, scattered eight hits, allowed just one run, and—most importantly—did not walk a batter.

We’ve talked about his command being the biggest factor for him, and this weekend showed exactly what he looks like when he has it. No walks allowed him to go deeper into the game and put Florida in a great position for the weekend.

On the year, he’s 1-2 with a 3.60 ERA and continues to show one of the highest ceilings in the SEC.

16. Aiden Sims — Texas A&M (↓ from No. 8)

Season: 6-0, 3.56 ERA, 1.06 WHIP — 48 IP, 36 H, 51K / 15BB
Past Week: 4.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 3 K

Aiden Sims continues to be Texas A&M’s solid number two starter.

This weekend against a really good Texas team, he did get hit around a bit but limited damage. He went four and two-thirds innings, allowed four hits and three runs, had three strikeouts and two walks.

On the season, though, he’s put together a really strong body of work. He’s 6-0 with a 3.56 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP in 48 innings, allowing just 36 hits with a 51-to-15 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He continues to complement that elite A&M offense perfectly.

17. Landon Mack — Tennessee (↓ from No. 9)

Season: 3-2, 3.75 ERA — 48 IP, 50 H, 64K / 17BB
Past Week: 4.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 0 BB, 6 K

Landon Mack is now the Friday night starter for Tennessee and continues to show why.

He went into Mississippi State this weekend and looked solid. Tennessee clearly had a plan to get through the lineup once or twice with Mack and then go quickly to Appenzeller—and that’s exactly what they did.

Mack did his job. He went four innings, scattered six hits, allowed three runs, didn’t walk a batter, and struck out six in a hostile environment. He set the tone for a series-opening win that led to a sweep.

On the season, he’s 3-2 with a 3.75 ERA in 48 innings with a 64-to-17 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

18. Hunter Elliott — Ole Miss (↑ from No. 20)

Season: 3-1, 3.69 ERA — 46.1 IP, 37 H, 68K / 27BB
Past Week: 6.0 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 8 K

Hunter Elliott put together a really strong outing this weekend against LSU.

After walking the first hitter of the game, he settled in nicely and didn’t walk another batter the rest of the outing. He went six innings, scattered eight hits, allowed two runs, and struck out eight.

He led the charge for Ole Miss in a weekend sweep, and when he’s limiting walks like that, he’s as good as anyone on Friday night.

On the season, he’s 3-1 with a 3.69 ERA in 46 innings, with 68 strikeouts. If he continues to hone in the command, his combination of stuff, experience, and competitiveness makes him one of the toughest matchups in the league.

19. Dylan Volantis — Texas (↓ from No. 12)

Season: (unchanged from prior week — did not pitch)

This is a respect spot for Dylan Volantis.

He didn’t get a chance to start this weekend because Texas’s third game was rained out, but I can’t take him out of the top 25 based on his body of work.

If he had pitched and performed well, he could easily be much higher. He’s been one of the more reliable arms in the SEC all year, and this is more about where I trust him going into the second half.

20. LJ Mercurius — Oklahoma (↑ from No. 23)

Season: 5-4, 4.98 ERA — 43.1 IP, 39 H, 62K / 15BB
Past Week: 6.1 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 13 K

LJ Mercurius bounces back after two really tough outings.

He dominated early this weekend against Vanderbilt, going six and a third innings, allowing five hits and three runs (with some inherited runners scoring), and striking out 13.

The swing-and-miss stuff looked like it did earlier in the year, and this was a start he badly needed.

Even though the bullpen couldn’t hold it, this was a really positive sign for Oklahoma moving forward.

21. Tegan Kuhns — Tennessee (↑ from outside Top 25)

Season: 2-3, 3.77 ERA, 1.13 WHIP — 45 IP, 42 H, 54K / 9BB
Past Week: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 7 K

Tegan Kuhns is back in the rotation for Tennessee and continues to produce.

He had a really solid outing at Mississippi State, going six innings, allowing four hits and two runs, striking out seven, and walking just one.

On the season, he’s 2-3 with a 3.77 ERA, but the 54-to-9 strikeout-to-walk ratio stands out. He continues to look like a top-50 draft prospect with elite upside.

22. William Schmidt — LSU (↓ from No. 11)

Season: 4-3, 3.22 ERA, 1.19 WHIP — 44.1 IP, 35 H, 63K / 18BB
Past Week: 3.2 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 BB, 7 K

William Schmidt struggled a bit at Ole Miss this weekend, but the stuff might have been the best it’s looked all year.

He was consistently 96–98 mph, and his average fastball was up a full tick. But for some reason, he leaned more on the slider than the fastball (see more below), which seemed to put him in some bad counts and led to walks and damage.

He went three and two-thirds innings, allowed four runs, struck out seven, but walked four.

On the season, he’s 4-3 with a 3.22 ERA. The stuff is trending up, but the pitch usage and command will determine how high he climbs in the second half.

23. Zane Adams — Alabama (↓ from No. 17)

Season: 4-2, 4.13 ERA, 1.23 WHIP — 48 IP, 46 H, 52K / 13BB
Past Week: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R (3 ER), 2 BB, 4 K

Zane Adams continues to provide quality starts for Alabama.

He went six innings this weekend, allowed five hits and four runs (three earned), and continues to be a very reliable number two option behind Tyler Fay.

As Alabama pushes toward the postseason, that one-two punch is a big strength.

24. Shane Sdao — Texas A&M (↑ from No. 25)

Season: 3-2, 5.77 ERA — 48.1 IP, 57 H, 58K / 12BB
Past Week: 4.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 BB, 6 K

Shane Sdao remains in this group because of fit more than pure numbers.

He pitched against Texas this weekend and was solid enough to start the weekend strong. The ERA and hit totals are high, but he throws strikes and gives A&M innings.

With that offense, that matters. He may give up hits, but he doesn’t beat himself with walks, and that’s why he continues to profile as the right Friday night starter for them.

25. Connor Fennell — Vanderbilt (↑ from outside Top 25)

Season: 3-1, 5.15 ERA — 46 H allowed, 67K / 12BB
Past Week: 7.1 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 0 BB, 10 K

Connor Fennell had a really nice bounce-back outing this weekend.

He went seven and a third innings, scattered seven hits, allowed three runs, didn’t walk a batter, and struck out 10. Early in the game, he was going head-to-head with LJ Mercurius in a really strong pitching matchup.

On the season, the ERA is still elevated, but the strikeout-to-walk ratio is excellent. This is the version of Fennell Vanderbilt needs on Friday nights.

Around the League — Notes, Trends & Developing Arms

I don’t even want to call this an “honorable mention” section, because a lot of these guys are either right on the edge of the Top 25 or are playing really important roles on really good teams. So this is more about just giving these arms the recognition they deserve and highlighting what’s going on around the league.

Casan Evans for LSU continues to develop into a legitimate Friday night option for them. I really like the way he’s trending and how he’s growing into that role, giving them someone they can trust in Game 1. My only concern right now is pitching calling/sequencing and maybe a slight drop in velocity, especially the second and third time through the order. Nothing alarming, but something I’m watching closely, and the reason he just missed the Top 25 for me this week.

Josh McDevitt continues to be a solid Game 1 option for Missouri. Obviously, they’re not one of the top teams in the league, but I don’t want his starts to go unnoticed because his body of work this season has been strong and he’s consistently given them a chance.

Evan Blanco is part of what I think is one of the top two or three rotations in the SEC with Tennessee. He might not have the flashiest or most electric stuff, but he’s a competitor, he’s experienced, and he just knows how to pitch. On a lot of other teams, he’s probably a Friday or Saturday guy.

Myles Upchurch had a really nice outing this weekend for Alabama, and his upside is what excites me the most. As a true freshman in this league, he’s handled himself really well, and his numbers and overall body of work for Year 1 are really impressive.

Matt Scott continues to be a really solid option for Georgia. He got the start on Sunday this weekend, and while it wasn’t his best outing, his role and what he means to that pitching staff is important. Georgia continues to mix and match, and he’s a big part of that flexibility.

Brandon Stone has now moved into the number one starting role for South Carolina and had another solid outing this weekend that set the tone for their series sweep. He was really close to landing in the Top 25 for me. His ERA and overall numbers are very strong, and he’s definitely someone I’ll be watching closely going forward.

Cold Notes & Things to Watch

There are also a few situations around the league that we have to talk about, even if they’re not the most fun.

Cam Johnson struggled with command again this weekend and didn’t get out of the first inning. That one is tough for me because I really like him and think his upside is tremendous. But right now, it’s clearly a command—and probably mental—battle when it comes to throwing strikes.

Kentucky’s rotation is becoming a bit of a concern. Ben Cleaver and Nate Harris have been very up and down—Jekyll and Hyde—and it’s hard to know what you’re going to get start to start. That inconsistency is something to monitor as we head into the second half.

Arkansas is doing something really interesting with their pitching staff. Gabe Gackle came out of the bullpen this weekend and picked up two wins, which is a notable shift. At the same time, Cole Gibler started Game 2 and Tate McGuire started Game 3. They swept the series, so clearly it worked—but it’s something to watch in terms of how they continue to deploy their arms.

Florida’s Sunday situation is also worth keeping an eye on. Russell Sandefer had a tough outing this weekend, but his overall body of work has been solid. If he continues to develop, that could stabilize that third spot in their rotation.

And then for Texas, Luke Harrison—who’s been really steady all year—had a tough outing and didn’t make it out of the first inning. Just one of those weekends, but something to note given how consistent he’s been up to this point.

Final Thoughts — The Separation Point

At the halfway point of SEC play, this is where things start to get real.

The numbers matter. The results matter. But more than anything, roles start to solidify.

You start to see who the true Friday night guys are.
Who can go win you a series opener.
Who can stop momentum.
And who you trust when everything is on the line.

At the same time, you also start to see the cracks.

Which rotations have real depth.
Which teams are piecing it together.
Which programs are leaning on swing arms, matchups, and high-leverage bullpen pieces just to get through a weekend.

Because in this league, it’s not just about having one guy.
It’s about getting 27 outs, three different ways.

And that’s what makes the SEC different.

What’s Next

With five weeks in the books and a full sample size now established, the next step is zooming out.

The rest of this week, we’re shifting the focus from individual arms to the bigger picture:

SEC Pitching Staff Power Rankings (1–16)

We’re going to break down:

• Which staffs have true weekend stability

• Which teams are surviving with depth and flexibility

• How bullpens are being deployed in high-leverage situations

• And which programs are best positioned to win series down the stretch

Because at this point in the season, pitching staffs—not just starters—win championships.

And we’re finally at the point where we have enough information to start projecting exactly how that plays out.

Thursday and Friday night across the SEC gave us a little bit of everything — early explosions, bullpen swings, and a few arms starting to separate themselves as real tone-setters heading into the heart of conference play.

With a couple of series already underway Thursday night, the league didn’t ease into the weekend — it jumped right into it.

Here’s how things unfolded.

#16 Oklahoma 5, Vanderbilt 10 (Thursday)

Vanderbilt pulled away late in a really competitive opener.

LJ Mercurius gave Oklahoma a much-needed bounce-back start, but the Commodores chipped away late, scoring one in the sixth, three in the seventh, and five in the eighth to take control.

Connor Fennell continued his strong season, going seven and a third innings, allowing three earned runs while striking out ten to improve to 3–1.

Oklahoma’s bullpen just couldn’t hold the line late.

#16 Oklahoma 13, Vanderbilt 11 (Friday)

This one was chaos from the start.

Oklahoma scored five runs in the top of the first, only for Vanderbilt to answer with eight in the bottom half.

Cam Johnson didn’t make it out of the first inning, walking four of the five batters he faced — a return to the command issues that have shown up at times this season.

Camden Johnson had a massive night for Oklahoma, going 3-for-5 with two home runs and seven RBIs.

South Carolina 5, Missouri 1 (Thursday)

South Carolina 1, Missouri 0 (Friday)

South Carolina quietly handled business to open the weekend.

On Thursday, Brandon Stone set the tone with four strong innings, allowing just one earned run while striking out seven. Patrick Evans led the offense, going 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs.

Then on Friday, it turned into a true pitching clinic.

Amp Phillips dominated, throwing eight shutout innings with 10 strikeouts as South Carolina locked down the series with a 1–0 win.

Florida 8, #4 Georgia 2

One of the more surprising results of the night came in Athens.

Aidan King continued his breakout season, throwing seven and a third innings, allowing just two earned runs with six strikeouts.

Florida jumped out early after two Georgia errors and never really looked back. King was perfect through six innings before Florida broke the game open with a seven-run seventh.

A very controlled road win against one of the hotter teams in the country.

Tennessee 6, #9 Mississippi State 5

Mississippi State has now dropped four straight SEC games at home.

Landon Mack was solid early for the Bulldogs, but Tennessee turned to freshman Cam Appenzeller, who once again looked like a major weapon.

The freshman went five innings, allowing just two runs while striking out eight to improve to 5–0. He continues to show the profile of an elite swingman — a guy who can impact games in multiple roles.

Tomas Valincius continued to look the part of a dominant SEC pitcher, striking out 6 in 6 solid innings, scattering eight hits and three runs, but credit to Tennessee for taking the series opener in from tof 13,000+ fans.

Kentucky 5, #15 Auburn 12

Auburn didn’t waste any time in this one.

They put up six runs in the first, then added two more in both the second and third innings to take full control early.

Jackson Jelkin was hit hard from the jump, and Kentucky never recovered.

Andreas Alvarez improved to 6–1 with another solid outing, going six innings and allowing two earned runs while striking out five. Ethan Bingaman led the offense, going 3-for-3 with three RBIs.

#22 Arkansas 7, #8 Alabama 5

Arkansas flipped this game late.

Alabama held a 3–1 lead heading into the eighth inning before Arkansas erupted for six runs to take control.

Hunter Dietz made his first start of the year, and Gabe Gaeckle came out of the bullpen to pick up the win, throwing an inning while allowing one earned run.

A big late-inning swing in a game that felt like Alabama had under control.

#24 LSU 3, #25 Ole Miss 6

Ole Miss took advantage of late-game execution.

Both teams traded runs early, with Ole Miss holding a 3–2 lead before LSU tied it in the seventh.

But the game turned in the eighth.

LSU’s defense struggled, with the first three Ole Miss hitters reaching without the ball leaving the infield — plays that needed to be made. Ole Miss capitalized, scoring three runs and taking control.

It’s an area that’s shown up before for LSU, and it cost them again here.

Texas A&M 9, Texas 8

The series of the weekend delivered right away.

In Jim Schlossnagle’s return to College Station, the game lived up to the moment.

Ruger Riojas and Shane Sdao both gave their teams solid outings, and the game went back and forth throughout.

Texas A&M ultimately grabbed control late, adding what proved to be a crucial insurance run in the eighth.

Texas made a push in the ninth with back-to-back home runs to make it 9–8, but the Aggies held on.

A high-level, high-energy game that sets the tone for the rest of the series.

Final Thoughts

This is what SEC weekends look like when they get going early.

Late-inning swings, bullpen exposure, and small mistakes turning into big innings. A few arms continue to separate themselves, but just as many games are being decided by execution in the margins.

With multiple series already in motion and momentum starting to build, Saturday becomes a pivotal day across the league.

And if this was just the start, there’s a lot more coming.

We’re getting to the point in the SEC season where things start to become a little more clear.

We’re about halfway through the conference slate after this weekend, and this is where you really start to figure out who’s for real, who’s still figuring it out, and who’s going to be in the mix when it comes to hosting and postseason play.

There are a couple Thursday starts again this weekend, and a lot of really telling matchups across the board.

Here’s how I see it.

#16 Oklahoma at Vanderbilt

This is a big one for me.

I’ve been high on both of these teams at different points this year, but more recently I’ve been leaning Oklahoma — at least until the last couple weeks.

Now I’m starting to have some questions again, especially with LJ Mercurius at the top of the rotation. Cam Johnson has righted the ship the last two weekends, so I’m looking for that to continue, but LJ has had some inconsistencies.

On the other side, Vanderbilt’s offense has been one of the better ones in the league, and with the fences coming in and the way they play at home, that matters. They’ve also won seven of their last SEC games at home in walk-off fashion, so that environment is real.

For me, I need to see Oklahoma go on the road and win a series like this before I’m fully back in on them as a top 10/15 team.

Prediction: Vanderbilt takes the series

South Carolina at Missouri

This is the two basement teams going at it.

Both teams have some upside on the mound, but I think Missouri’s offense is a little better, and playing at home gives them the edge for me.

I do think South Carolina is probably the more talented team overall, and if this series were flipped and played at South Carolina, I might feel differently.

But with it being at Missouri, I lean their way.

Prediction: Missouri takes 2 of 3

Florida at #4 Georgia

This is a really good one.

Florida is coming off a solid midweek win against Florida State after getting beat two out of three at home by Ole Miss. Georgia, on the other hand, swept Mississippi State on the road and then won a 28–3 midweek game.

So Georgia is playing really well right now.

But for some reason, my gut tells me Florida takes this series.

They’re moving Aidan King to the Friday night spot and sliding Liam Peterson to Saturday, and I think that takes some pressure off Peterson and allows him to settle into what he can be.

If Aidan King continues to do what he’s been doing, that gives Florida a real shot to start the weekend strong.

I’ll be anxious to see how Georgia’s starters respond against a Florida team that’s a little banged up but still dangerous.

Prediction: Florida takes the series

Tennessee at #9 Mississippi State

I think this one comes down to offense versus pitching.

Tennessee has the edge in the starting pitching department for me with Landon Mack, Teagan Kuhns, and Evan Blanco. Mississippi State hasn’t fully locked in their rotation yet with McPherson out, although Tomas Valincius and Duke Stone have both been very solid.

After that, there are some question marks, for me.

But Tennessee’s issue is still the offense.

They’re just too inexperienced right now, and Mississippi State is the number three offense in the league.

Coming off getting swept at home last weekend, I don’t see Mississippi State dropping this one.

Prediction: Mississippi State takes at least 2 of 3

#22 Arkansas at #8 Alabama

I’ve been high on Alabama all year, and I still am.

Tyler Fay and Zane Adams give them a really strong one-two punch, and Myles Upchurch gives them a solid Sunday option, even though he’s had some command issues at times.

The offense has started to turn it on lately, and they’re playing good baseball.

On the other side, Arkansas still has some question marks for me offensively outside of Ryder Helfrick. And on the mound, Gabe Gaeckle and Hunter Dietz have big-time upside, but both have been inconsistent.

That inconsistency is what leans me toward Alabama at home.

Prediction: Alabama takes 2 of 3

Kentucky at #15 Auburn

I think Auburn is just going to be too much for Kentucky, especially at home.

Auburn’s starting rotation gives them the edge for me. On the Kentucky side, I still have some questions with Ben Cleaver and Nate Harris.

Jaxon Jelkin gives them a real chance to win game one, but after that it gets tougher.

This feels like a lower-scoring series overall, and I’d probably lean toward the under in most of these games.

But with Auburn at home and the edge on the mound, I think they take it.

Prediction: Auburn takes the series

#24 LSU at #25 Ole Miss

This is a really tough one to pick.

Both teams are very good, but neither has really played up to their full potential yet. So this weekend should tell us a lot about both.

There are real implications here in terms of hosting and positioning, so both teams should be motivated.

I give Ole Miss a slight edge in the starting rotation from a consistency standpoint.

Cade Townsend and Taylor Rabe match the upside of Casan Evans and William Schmidt, and Hunter Elliott brings experience and leadership at the top, even though he’s had some command issues.

If LSU can work counts and get Elliott deep into pitch counts, they could have success early. But overall, due to LSU’s struggles on defense and with walks and ERA, I lean Ole Miss.

Prediction: Ole Miss takes the series

#2 Texas at #18 Texas A&M

This is the series of the weekend.

It’s going to be a great one. A ton of energy, a ton of talent, and a rivalry that always brings something out of both sides.

But I think Texas is just the better team right now.

Texas A&M’s offense has been really good — near the top of the league in just about everything — but I still have some question marks about their pitching staff.

Aiden Sims has been solid, and Shane Sdao throws strikes and has real upside, but when you’re in the zone that much in SEC play, you’re going to give up hits and home runs. And against a Texas lineup like this, that becomes a problem.

Texas can match them from a talent standpoint, and I think they have the edge overall.

Prediction: Texas takes 2 of 3, with sweep potential

Weekend Outlook

This weekend should give us a lot more clarity.

We’re halfway through the SEC slate after this, and this is where you start to separate teams in terms of hosting, postseason positioning, and who’s actually built to sustain it over the long haul.

There’s still some volatility across the league, but after this weekend, we should have a much better idea of where everyone stands.

After four weeks of SEC play, we’re finally starting to get some real clarity.

You can see which teams are separating themselves—and more importantly, how they’re doing it on the mound.

Each week, as we gather more information, it becomes more and more interesting to watch how different coaches utilize their personnel. Some teams are built around traditional weekend starters. Others are mixing and matching, using swing guys, leveraging bullpens, and adjusting based on matchups, schedule, and game flow.

And as the stakes continue to rise, those high-leverage moments become everything.

You’re starting to see coaches deploy their best weapons earlier, in bigger spots, and with more intention—and that’s where games and series are being won.

So this week, we’re narrowing it down again to the Top 25 starting pitchers in the SEC, followed by a notes section and honorable mentions, where we’ll break down:

• Arms just outside the rankings

• Friday night guys who have fallen off

• Swing men and hybrid arms impacting winning teams

• The Georgia situation and how they’re piecing together innings

• And a few high-upside arms still trying to find consistency

Top 25 SEC Starting Pitcher Power Rankings

1. Tomas Valincius — Mississippi State (↑ from No. 2)

Season: 1.15 ERA, 0.83 WHIP — 6-1, 66K / 11BB (47 IP)
Past week: 7.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 10 K

Valincinus takes over the top spot after another dominant outing, even in a weekend where Mississippi State got swept.

Against one of the best offenses in the league in Georgia, he went 7.1 innings, didn’t walk a hitter, and punched out 10. The line speaks for itself, but more importantly, he set the tone in a tough environment and gave his team every chance to win that game.

When you pair that outing with his overall body of work—sub-1.20 ERA, elite WHIP, and a 66-to-11 strikeout-to-walk ratio—it’s hard to argue against him at number one right now.

2. Jake Marciano — Auburn (↑ from No. 5)

Season: 1.29 ERA, 0.68 WHIP — 3-1, 64K / 7BB (48.1 IP)
Past week: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 8 K

Marciano just continues to live in this range every single week.

Another great outing against a really good Arkansas team—seven innings, one run, and complete control of the game. That’s just what he does.

At this point, he’s probably the most steady and reliable starter in the SEC. He doesn’t beat himself, he commands the zone, and his numbers continue to sit at the top of the conference.

3. Andreas Alvarez — Auburn (↑ from No. 14 )

Season: 0.96 ERA, 1.05 WHIP — 5-1, 55K / 12BB (37.2 IP)
Past week: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 10 K

Alvarez makes one of the biggest jumps of the year after his first SEC start—and he didn’t skip a beat.

He set the tone in the Thursday opener against Arkansas, looked electric, and punched out 10. Auburn’s offense gave him run support, but more importantly, he controlled the game from the start.

With mid-90s velocity and a real breaking ball, he adds another legit piece to an already loaded Auburn rotation.

4. Aidan King — Florida (↑ from No. 12)

Season: 1.63 ERA, 1.03 WHIP — 4-2, 41K / 9BB (38.1 IP)
Past week: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K

King makes a big jump after a dominant outing in a tough weekend for Florida.

Seven shutout innings, no walks, and complete control. He continues to be that steady number two piece behind Liam Peterson.

With Peterson’s volatility at times, King’s consistency is extremely valuable for Florida, and he’s been one of the more reliable starters in the SEC all year.

5. Jaxon Jelkin — Kentucky (↓ from No. 4)

Season: 2.96 ERA, 0.99 WHIP — 6-0, 54K / 10BB (48.1 IP)
Past week: 7.0 IP, 8 H, 4 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 10 K

Jelkin continues to be one of the steadiest arms in the league.

Even in a weekend where Kentucky dropped two out of three, he gave them length and punched out 10. The stuff, the body, and the ability to pitch all pass the eye test.

For me, he still profiles like a first-rounder—similar to a Rick Porcello type with how he goes about it.

6. Ruger Riojas — Texas (↓ from No. 1)

Season: 2.74 ERA, 1.05 WHIP — (Record TBD), 68K / 9BB (42.1 IP)
Past week: 3.0 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 2 BB, 4 K

Riojas falls a bit after his first rough outing of the year.

South Carolina came out aggressive, attacked pitches in the zone, and got to him early. He only went three innings, which is uncharacteristic.

That said, the overall body of work still says he’s one of the most dominant arms in the SEC. He’ll have a big test next weekend against Texas A&M to bounce back.

7. Cade Townsend — Ole Miss (↑ from No. 22)

Season: 1.82 ERA, 1.04 WHIP — 2-1, 46K / 7BB (29.1 IP)
Past week: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 6 K

Townsend jumps back up after returning from injury and showing exactly why he belongs here.

Six strong innings, no walks, and complete control. The stuff is really, really good, and now that he’s back in the rotation, he’s going to be a big piece for Ole Miss moving forward.

8. Aiden Sims — Texas A&M (↑ from outside Top 25)

Season: 3.32 ERA, 1.04 WHIP — 6-0, 48K / 13BB (43 IP)
Past week: 7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 K

Sims makes a big jump after a complete game to close out the series against Vanderbilt.

He’s been solid all year, and this weekend he put an exclamation point on it. With that offense behind him, his ability to throw strikes and keep them in games on Sunday is extremely valuable.

9. Landon Mack — Tennessee (↑ from No. 27)

Season: 3.48 ERA, 1.39 WHIP — 3-2, 58K / 17BB (44 IP)
Past week: 7.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 10 K

Mack makes a huge jump after an electric outing against LSU.

At one point, he retired 14 straight hitters and looked completely in control. There were reports he was taken out for health-related reasons, but he could have kept going.

That’s the version of Mack that puts him near the top of this list.

10. Hunter Dietz — Arkansas (↑ from No. 19)

Season: 3.98 ERA, 1.18 WHIP — 2-2, 69K / 14BB (40.1 IP)
Past week: 7.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 11 K

Dietz jumps into the top 10 after a dominant outing against Auburn.

Seven innings, no walks, and 11 strikeouts—and now he leads the SEC in strikeouts.

With Gaeckle struggling a bit, you have to at least start asking the question if Dietz could slide into that Friday role, but either way, he’s been a huge piece for Arkansas.

11. William Schmidt — LSU (↓ from No. 6)

Season: 2.63 ERA, 1.12 WHIP — 4-2, 56K / 14BB (41 IP)
Past week: 5.2 IP, 3 H, 4 R (2 ER), 3 BB, 7 K

Schmidt falls a bit after taking the loss at Tennessee, but overall didn’t pitch bad and continues to trend toward being an elite prospect.

The walks are really the separator right now. If he can limit those, he’ll cut down base runners and continue to climb. Still looks like a high-level number two starter for LSU with big upside.

12. Dylan Volantis — Texas (↓ from No. 8)

Season: 2.01 ERA, 1.07 WHIP — 4-0, 57K / 15BB (44.1 IP)
Past week: 5.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 6 K

Volantis just continues to be very steady in that Sunday role.

In a weekend where Texas didn’t expect to need a deciding game, he stepped up and delivered. He’s been a consistent presence and a leader in that rotation.

13. Tyler Fay — Alabama (↓ from No. 3)

Season: 4.07 ERA, 0.90 WHIP — 6-2, 59K / 12BB (48.1 IP)
Past week: 6.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 7 K

Fay falls a little after giving up some runs, but still did a solid job keeping Alabama in the game.

He continues to lead in multiple statistical categories and remains a strong Friday night presence for a surging Alabama team.

14. Luke Harrison — Texas (↓ from No. 7)

Season: 2.72 ERA, 1.12 WHIP — 4-0, 42K / 16BB (43 IP)
Past week: 5.2 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 5 K

Harrison had another solid outing and continues to be a reliable number two starter for Texas.

In a weekend where they needed a stopper, he stepped in and gave them exactly what they needed.

15. Alex Petrovic — Auburn (unchanged)

Season: 3.12 ERA, 0.97 WHIP — 5-1, 45K / 9BB (40 IP)
Past week: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 4 K

Petrovic continues to give Auburn a solid number three option.

He and Jackson Sanders handled the entire game on Sunday in a pivotal rubber match, which says a lot about how much Auburn trusts him in that role.

16. Joey Volchko — Georgia (↓ from No. 15)

Season: 3.89 ERA, 1.48 WHIP — 6-0, 42K / 19BB (39 IP)
Past week: 5.0 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 3 K

Volchko had a solid outing against a good Mississippi State offense.

He still gives up a few too many base runners, but with Georgia’s offense, his job is to keep them in games—and he continues to do that.

17. Zane Adams — Alabama (↓ from No. 9)

Season: 4.07 ERA, 1.24 WHIP — 3-2, 48K / 11BB (42 IP)
Past week: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 BB, 7 K

Adams falls slightly after taking the loss against Oklahoma.

The walks were a little uncharacteristic, but overall, he and Fay still form a strong 1–2 punch for Alabama.

18. Duke Stone — Mississippi State (↓ from No. 17)

Season: 3.50 ERA, 1.25 WHIP — 5-0, 55K / 15BB (36 IP)
Past week: 4.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R (1 ER), 3 BB, 10 K

Stone continues to deal with what I call the “Sunday starter dilemma.”

Still, 10 strikeouts in four innings shows the stuff is real. With McPherson out, he could easily slide into a bigger role moving forward.

19. Casan Evans — LSU (↓ from No. 18)

Season: 4.97 ERA, 1.27 WHIP — 2-1, 59K / 21BB (41.1 IP)
Past week: 5.2 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 6 K

Evans had a solid outing but didn’t get much run support early.

He’s still very capable, but like we’ve talked about, command and consistency will dictate how high he climbs.

20. Hunter Elliott — Ole Miss (↓ from No. 11)

Season: 3.79 ERA, 1.36 WHIP — 3-1, 60K / 26BB (40 IP)
Past week: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 4 BB, 9 K

Elliott continues to deal with command issues.

The strikeouts are there, but the walks continue to limit him and keep him from going deeper into games.

21. Cam Johnson — Oklahoma (↑ from No. 24)

Season: 2.97 ERA, 1.43 WHIP — 4-1, 52K / 24BB (36 IP)
Past week: 6.1 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 8 K

Johnson looks like he’s starting to right the ship.

Still some walks, but overall a much more controlled outing and a step in the right direction.

22. Liam Peterson — Florida (↓ from No. 13)

Season: 4.03 ERA, 1.40 WHIP — 1-2, 62K / 25BB (38 IP)
Past week: 3.2 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 7 K

Peterson continues to be one of the highest upside arms in the SEC.

But the command issues and base runners continue to hold him back. When it clicks, he’s elite—but it hasn’t been consistent enough yet.

23. LJ Mercurius — Oklahoma (↓ from No. 10)

Season: 5.11 ERA, 1.30 WHIP — 5-3, 49K / 14BB (37 IP)
Past week: 1.1 IP, 5 H, 7 R, 1 BB, 0 K

Mercurius probably has the biggest fall this week.

It was hard to keep him out of the top 10 even after last weekend, but he followed that up with another rough outing where he couldn’t get out of the second inning. The stuff just doesn’t look as sharp as it did early in the year, and that’s showing up in the results.

If he can get back to what he was early in the season, Oklahoma can regain that elite one-two punch, but right now, he’s searching a bit.

24. Josh McDevitt — Missouri (Previous: Unranked)

Season: 3.66 ERA, 1.27 WHIP — 3-2, 52K / 26BB (39.1 IP)
Past week: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 1 (ER), 3 BB, 7 K

McDevitt jumps into the rankings after helping Missouri take two out of three against Kentucky.

He put them in a really strong position in his start, and with how much Missouri has improved, he’s earned a spot in the top 25 this week.

25. Gabe Gaeckle — Arkansas (↓ from No. 17)

Season: 4.17 ERA, 1.64 WHIP — 3-3, 41K / 19BB (36.1 IP)
Past week: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 BB, 3 K

Gaeckle stays in the top 25 because of the upside and the role.

The results haven’t been consistent, but the stuff is still first-round caliber, and he continues to take the ball on Friday nights for Arkansas. There’s still a lot there, but he’s got to find a way to put it all together.

Notes Breakdown

As we move deeper into SEC play, this is where the conversation expands beyond just starting pitchers.

Russell Sandefer

Florida’s Sunday starter has had back-to-back strong outings and had a really nice outing against Ole Miss this weekend. That’s an important development for them moving forward as Walls moves to the pen.

South Carolina Arms

Amp Phillips continues to develop and shows real upside from a draft and professional perspective, while Josh Gunther has shown plenty of good to give them another good arm to compete on weekends.

Reliable Rotation Pieces

Evan Blanco continues to be a solid arm for Tennessee, and had another solid outing against LSU this weekend.
Wyatt Nadeau is putting together a really solid freshman campaign for Vanderbilt.
Cord Rager continues to give Oklahoma a strong true freshman presence in game three.

Friday Night Volatility

Shane Sdao (Texas A&M) and Connor Fennell (Vanderbilt) both have had ups and downs.

They throw strikes and get strikeouts, but they also give up a lot of hits, making them really interesting cases on Friday’s.

Swing / Hybrid Arms

Tegan Kuhns (Tennessee), Dylan Vigue (Georgia), Jackson Sanders (Auburn), Sam Cozart (Texas), and Taylor Rabe (Ole Miss) are all guys that can start, relieve, and impact games in multiple ways — they also have some of the best stuff so on any given night, these guys can be shut down arms.

For example, after being the Saturday starter all year, this weekend Jackson Sanders came in after Alex Petrovic and recorded a save, firing 4 scoreless innings, punching out eight and only allowing one hit.

Last weekend Dylan Vigue started Saturday, didn’t get out of the first inning, and came back out of the bullpen on Sunday. This weekend he started game two and pitched 5.1 innings.

These are some of the most important arms in the league right now.

Georgia Pitching Model

Speaking of Georgia — Caden Aoki, Justin Byrd, and Matt Scott continue to give the Bulldogs flexibility.

They pitch in multiple roles and give Wes Johnson a ton of options depending on how games unfold.

Upside / Development Arms

Myles Upchurch (Alabama) continues to have massive upside but is still developing consistency.

Bounce-Back Candidates

Colin Fisher (Arkansas) and Nate Taylor (Vanderbilt) have had strong outing and tough outings this year but still have opportunity to contribute to their teams on Sunday’s, imo.

Closing Thoughts

This is where the season really starts to take shape.

Not just who has the best arms—but who knows how to use them.

Different programs are showing different identities:

• Traditional rotations

• Hybrid usage

• Bullpen-heavy strategies

• Matchup-based deployment

And as we move into the middle of SEC play, that’s what’s going to separate teams.

Because in this league, it’s not just about having good pitchers.

It’s about knowing when to use them.

Friday night looked a little different across the SEC this weekend.

With the Easter schedule pushing most series to start on Thursday, we’re already staring at a slate of rubber matches — and even a few potential sweeps — as we roll into Saturday. It’s created a quicker-moving weekend, but the intensity hasn’t changed.

If anything, it’s ramped up.

Here’s a quick “in case you missed it” snapshot of where things stand heading into a pivotal Saturday.

#5 Georgia vs #4 Mississippi State

Georgia leads series 2–0

Georgia has quietly put together one of the most impressive starts of the weekend.

They took Thursday’s opener 10–9 behind a solid outing from Joey Volchko, who worked five innings, limited traffic, and did enough to keep Mississippi State’s offense from getting rolling early. The bullpen made things interesting late, but Georgia held on in a high-scoring game.

Then on Friday, Dylan Vigue set the tone early and Georgia’s bullpen took over from there in a 3–1 win.

Now Georgia sits one win away from a sweep in Starkville — and if they finish it off, you’re legitimately starting to talk about them as a potential No. 1 team in the country.

Missouri 5, #24 Kentucky 4

Series ongoing (2 games remaining)

Missouri grabbed the opener in a tight one.

Jaxon Jelkin actually settled in nicely after a slow start, finishing with 10 strikeouts over seven innings, but Kentucky couldn’t close it out late.

They tied the game late, only to give it back, and Missouri capitalized to take Game 1.

Still plenty left in this series, but that’s a tough one for Kentucky to let slip.

#2 Texas vs South Carolina

Series tied 1–1 (rubber match today)

This has been one of the more surprising series so far.

South Carolina jumped Texas early on Thursday, handing Ruger Riojas his most human outing of the season in a 9–1 win. They were on him from the start and never let Texas get comfortable.

Texas responded the way good teams do.

They bounced back with a 3–2 win behind another steady outing from Luke Harrison, who handed the ball off to Sam Cozart to finish it.

Now it sets up a clean rubber match with both teams having taken a shot at each other.

#16 Alabama vs #11 Oklahoma

Series tied 1–1 (rubber match today)

Alabama took the opener, getting to Oklahoma starter LJ Mercurius early before his brother Xander stabilized things out of the bullpen and kept the game from getting out of hand.

Then Oklahoma answered.

Cam Johnson delivered another strong SEC outing, going six and a third innings against a hot Alabama lineup and helping Oklahoma even the series with a 4–2 win.

Another high-level matchup heading into today.

#17 Arkansas vs #18 Auburn

Series tied 1–1 (rubber match today)

Auburn handled Arkansas on Thursday, jumping out early and controlling the game in a convincing win.

But Arkansas flipped it Friday night.

Auburn held a 2–1 lead for most of the game before Arkansas broke through late, taking the lead in the eighth and closing it out 3–2.

Momentum now swings back to Arkansas heading into a big Game 3.

LSU 7, Tennessee 5

Series ongoing (continues into Easter)

This one had everything.

Landon Mack was outstanding for Tennessee, retiring 14 straight hitters at one point and working seven strong innings. He left the game after 94 pitches with the lead, looking firmly in control.

Then things unraveled.

LSU broke through late, highlighted by a go-ahead grand slam from Derek Curiel that flipped the game. They added insurance in the ninth and held on for a 7–5 win.

This series continues through the weekend, including Easter — one of only a couple still extending past Saturday.

Ole Miss vs #21 Florida

Series tied 1–1 (rubber match today)

Another really balanced series heading into Saturday.

Ole Miss took the opener behind Taylor Rabe, getting to Liam Peterson a little bit and setting the tone early.

Florida responded with a strong pitching performance of their own, as Aidan King threw seven shutout innings in a 2–0 win to even the series.

Now it comes down to one game today, and I think Ole Miss may have the advantage because of the pitching match-up.

#20 Texas A&M wins series vs Vanderbilt (2–1)

We already have our first completed series of the weekend — and it didn’t take long to flip.

Vanderbilt took Thursday’s opener in a high-scoring game, controlling the tempo offensively and looking like they might carry that momentum into the rest of the series.

But Texas A&M responded in a big way on Friday.

The Aggies swept the doubleheader, first taking Game 2 with an 8–4 win before completely taking control in the finale, run-ruling Vanderbilt 12–0.

Aidan Sims was the story in the second game of the doubleheader, throwing a complete game shutout over seven innings and completely shutting down a Vanderbilt lineup that had looked dangerous the night before.

Offensively, Texas A&M did what we expected them to do in this series — they applied pressure, created traffic, and capitalized in big innings. The difference was their ability to pair that offense with dominant pitching on Friday.

After dropping the opener, Texas A&M didn’t just respond — they took control of the series.

Final Thoughts

With one series already in the books, the rest of the SEC now shifts into a true separation day.

Multiple rubber matches are on deck, a few sweeps are still in play, and the margin for error is only getting smaller as the weekend moves forward.

If Friday showed us anything, it’s that momentum can flip quickly — and the teams that respond best over the next 24 hours are the ones that will leave the weekend in control.

This weekend feels like one of those checkpoints in the SEC season where you start learning a lot more about who teams really are.

Some clubs are hot. Some are trying to bounce back. Some are still stuck in that in-between space where you can see the talent, but you still do not fully trust what is going to show up from game to game.

That is what makes this weekend so interesting.

There are a handful of series here where the biggest question is simple: which version of each team shows up? And like always in this league, so much of it starts with the starting pitching.

Here is how I see the weekend.

#5 Georgia at #4 Mississippi State

This is one of the best series of the weekend.

You have elite on elite here, and that is what makes it so much fun. Mississippi State has been one of the best offensive teams in the league, and Georgia is right there with them, especially when you look at the power numbers.

So for me, the first question is which offense wins out.

Then it comes back to the same thing it has for Georgia most of the year: which Joey Volchko do we get? He has allowed too many base runners at times, whether it is through hits or walks, and that becomes a real issue against a lineup like Mississippi State. Then with Dylan Vigue, we have seen both versions. We have seen him settle in and give length, and we have also seen him used a little more creatively when Georgia is chasing a weekend.

On the Mississippi State side, I still think they have the edge in the starting pitching department over the course of the series. When you combine that with the home field advantage at Dudy Noble, it gives them the slight lean for me.

Prediction: Mississippi State takes the series

LSU at Tennessee

Before the season, this looked like one of the headline series in the league.

It still matters a ton, but now it feels massive for a different reason. Both teams need it.

Tennessee is coming off getting swept by Vanderbilt in three straight walk-offs. LSU took two of three from Kentucky, but even that did not feel clean. It still feels like everything right now is hard for LSU, and Tennessee has had the same issue in a different way. When they pitch well, they do not swing it. When they swing it, they do not pitch. It is always something.

For me, this weekend comes down to Tennessee’s pitching staff against the LSU bats. Tennessee’s strength right now is still on the mound, but LSU does have the edge for me at the top of the rotation with the way Casan Evans and William Schmidt are throwing. Evans has had some command issues, but we have also seen flashes of a real Friday night guy, and the way he settled in recently mattered to me.

I also still like Gavin Guidry in that Sunday role for LSU. It did not work perfectly the first time, but I still like the idea.

I am a little nervous about LSU’s defense on the road in that ballpark, especially with how the ball can fly there. But overall, I think LSU has a little bit of a talent edge and a little more experience in the dugout, and I think they grind this one out.

Prediction: LSU takes 2 of 3

Ole Miss at #21 Florida

This is one of the tougher ones to trust because Florida has been such a swinging pendulum all year.

One week they look like they can beat anybody. The next week they fall flat. So the first question here is obvious: which Florida team shows up?

Then Ole Miss throws a little wrinkle into it with the rotation. They go with Taylor Rabe in game one, then Hunter Elliott, then Cade Townsend. That changed the way I looked at the series because it really does feel like a bit of a chess match. If you are Ole Miss, you may be looking at Liam Peterson in game one and saying, if he is on, it may not matter who we throw. So just keep it close, do not burn too many arms, and then attack the back half with Elliott and Townsend.

Oh, and Taylor Rabe is really good too — he might have some of the best pure stuff in the SEC and last weekend he threw 70+ pitches out of the pen, so it wouldn’t be crazy to see him go five plus and 80 pitches.

I actually kind of like that setup for Ole Miss.

They can really swing it, they have hit a lot of home runs, and if Liam Peterson has any of the command issues that have popped up at times, this could get weird for Florida in a hurry. Florida has enough arms to keep games alive even if Peterson is off, but this still feels like one of those weekends where Ole Miss can take advantage of the uncertainty.

Prediction: Ole Miss takes 2 of 3

Vanderbilt at #20 Texas A&M

This feels like one of the more important statement series of the weekend.

Both teams are hot, but both teams have also been a little bit Jekyll and Hyde this year, which is why it is hard to get a real read on them.

With Vanderbilt, the biggest question is still which Connor Fennell shows up. We have seen him look dominant, and we have also seen him get hit. So when you are facing a Texas A&M offense like this, that matters.

Because Texas A&M can really swing it.

At the same time, Vanderbilt’s offense has turned into one of the more dangerous ones in the league too, and that is what makes this series feel like it could turn into a shootout. Texas A&M throws to contact, does not walk many guys, and makes you earn it. That is why I still give Shane Sdao a lot of credit, even with the ERA being what it is.

The other factor here is Vanderbilt away from Nashville. They have really struggled on the road, and that matters in a series like this.

So while I think Vanderbilt will score, I trust Texas A&M a little more at home and I think this is the kind of weekend where we start talking more seriously about them if they win it.

Prediction: Texas A&M takes 2 of 3

#2 Texas at South Carolina

I do not think there is a complicated way to frame this one.

For South Carolina to have any chance, it starts with the pitching.

Josh Gunther has to look like the version of himself that showed up against Clemson and Florida. Amp Phillips has to be electric. Brandon Stone has to continue being solid. They have to find a way to keep the game tight because Texas is going to make life hard enough on South Carolina offensively as it is.

That is really the issue.

Texas is likely going to shut down South Carolina’s offense, so South Carolina’s best path is to score early somehow, keep games close, and hope the environment plays a role. But even then, it is hard to lean that way because Texas would really have to mess this up to lose the series.

South Carolina also switched things around with Alex Valentin getting game one, then Gunther, then Phillips, so maybe they are just throwing different looks at Texas and seeing what sticks.

But overall, this feels pretty straightforward to me.

Prediction: Texas sweeps

Missouri at #24 Kentucky

I think Kentucky takes care of business here, but there are still a couple things I am watching.

For Kentucky, the concern remains the starting pitching behind Jaxon Jelkin. You feel good about him, but after that it gets a little shaky. Ben Cleaver has not really gone deep into games, and Nate Harris has been up and down, so there is still some uncertainty once you get beyond that first spot.

On the other side, one of the things I have liked most about Missouri this year has actually been the starting pitching. That is the one area where I think they can stay competitive in this series.

Kentucky is a scrappy team. They feed off momentum and pressure. But if Missouri’s starters can take that away early, that is how they could steal a game.

That said, I have been high on Kentucky because I think they are more veteran and they know how to win baseball games, especially at home. So I think they handle the series, even if Missouri has enough on the mound to maybe make one game uncomfortable.

Prediction: Kentucky takes the series, likely a sweep, but Missouri could sneak one

#17 Alabama at #11 Oklahoma

This is a really tough series to pick because Alabama is playing really good baseball right now.

They have swept their last two SEC weekends after getting swept in the opening weekend, and Tyler Fay and Zane Adams are pitching as well as any one-two combo in the country right now. Oh and there’s a kid named Justin Lebron who is an above average player (that’s sarcasm since he is likely number one or two in the MLB Draft in a few months, for people reading fast).

That is what makes this difficult.

But there are still enough concerns for me to lean Oklahoma. Alabama is just 3-5 on the road, and now they are going into an Oklahoma team that has been really good at home. Then when you add in Alabama’s defensive issues, that becomes an even bigger factor against a team like Oklahoma.

Oklahoma is patient, athletic, and they are going to force you to play clean baseball. They manufacture runs, steal bases, bunt, and pressure you. If Alabama is loose defensively at all, Oklahoma is the kind of team that can make that snowball.

Then the other big question here is Cam Johnson. How does he bounce back, and what does he look like following up his impressive outing against Texas?

Overall, I just believe in Oklahoma as a whole at home in this matchup.

Prediction: Oklahoma takes 2 of 3

#17 Arkansas at #18 Auburn

This feels like a get-right weekend for Auburn.

Both teams are kind of limping into it, but I have had more questions about Arkansas recently, especially offensively and especially when it comes to Gabe Gaeckle on Friday night. I have said before that I think he might be better served as a Saturday starter, with Colin Fisher sliding into the Friday night role.

That is still part of how I see this series.

For me, one of the swing factors is simply which Gabe Gaeckle shows up. On the other side, I think Auburn has the edge in the starting pitching department, and that matters a lot here.

Then you add in the home field factor. Auburn has protected home field well, and Arkansas has been fine but not dominant on the road.

The other interesting wrinkle is Auburn moving Andreas Alvarez into the Thursday night role. When I went back and watched him, the stuff matched the numbers. He has been really good in midweek competition, including a 10-strikeout performance against Georgia Tech, so even though he has not done it yet against an SEC lineup, he has faced high-level talent and looked the part.

That, along with Auburn’s edge on the mound as a whole, gives them the lean for me.

Prediction: Auburn takes 2 of 3

Weekend Picks

Mississippi State over Georgia
LSU over Tennessee
Ole Miss over Florida
Texas A&M over Vanderbilt
Texas over South Carolina
Kentucky over Missouri
Oklahoma over Alabama
Auburn over Arkansas

This weekend feels like one of those turning points where separation in the SEC really starts to happen. The teams that handle their business now are the ones that put themselves in position later in the year. And with this many tight matchups, we should learn a lot about who’s for real and who still has questions to answer.

SEC Starting Pitcher Power Rankings — Honing in on Staff Identity

Once SEC play begins, everything starts to tighten up—not just with individual pitchers, but with entire pitching staffs.

Early in the year, you’re evaluating arms. Now, you’re evaluating roles.

You start to see how coaches want to deploy their staff over a three-game weekend. Some programs rely on traditional starting pitching—true Friday, Saturday, Sunday guys. Others are mixing and matching, leaning on swing men, bullpen depth, and high-leverage arms to piece together 27 outs.

You have teams like Auburn that can roll out four legitimate starters. Then you have teams like Georgia, who rely on one true starter and piece together the rest of the weekend with guys like Dylan Vigue, maximizing matchups and leaning on offense to stay in games.

So as this list evolves, we start to value different things.

We’re not just ranking stuff—we’re ranking role, dependability, and how a pitcher fits into a winning formula for his team.

And as we continue to gather more information, the next layer of this will be bullpen evaluation—identifying high-leverage arms and how staffs are really built at the back end of games.

After a wild weekend that saw seven sweeps in eight SEC series, there was a lot of movement. * Please read my notes at the end of the article on Mississippi State’s Duke Stone, who I accidentally left out of the rankings. When I added Alvarez at 14, I meant to put Stone right after him at 15.

So now, we narrow this down to the Top 25 Starting Pitchers in the SEC.

Top 25 SEC Starting Pitcher Power Rankings

1. Ruger Riojas — Texas (↑ from No. 2)

Season: 1.59 ERA, 0.89 WHIP — 5-0, 64K / 7BB (39.2 IP)
Past week: 7.0 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 K

Riojas continues to dominate and set the tone for Texas. In a rivalry series against Oklahoma, he threw a complete game in a run-rule win and controlled the game from start to finish.

He continues to show why he’s one of the most complete Friday night starters in the country with his pitch mix, command, and ability to sequence.

2. Tomas Valincius — Mississippi State (↑ from No. 3)

Season: 0.91 ERA, 0.88 WHIP — 6-0, 57K / 11BB (39.2 IP)
Past week: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 9 K

Valincinus had another dominant outing at Ole Miss and didn’t skip a beat despite Mississippi State adjusting their weekend rotation.

He continues to look like a true Friday night option, and with McPherson out, he’s stepping right into that role without Mississippi State missing anything.

3. Tyler Fay — Alabama (↑ from No. 5)

Season: 3.77 ERA, 0.86 WHIP — 4-1, 53K / 11BB (43 IP)
Past week: 5.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 5 K

Piggybacking off his no-hitter last weekend, Fay continues to perform at a high level.

Even with a slightly higher pitch count due to walks, he still controlled the game and continues to be one of the more reliable arms in the SEC.

4. Jaxon Jelkin — Kentucky (↑ from No. 6)

Season: 2.81 ERA, 0.94 WHIP — 6-0, 44K / 9BB (41.1 IP)
Past week: 8.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 7 K

Jelkin had one of the best performances of the weekend, going into Alex Box and beating LSU. Jelkin is long and lanky and reminds me a bit of Rick Porcello the more I watch him pitch. It’s an effortless mid-90’s with more in the tank and a nasty low 80’s CB and good CH.

Jelkin had Kentucky’s lone win of the series, and he gave them everything they needed in a hostile environment. It’s the mound presence for me, with the upside potential. Even on pitch 114 he was able to elevate and celebrate at 95 mph….enjoy.

5. Jake Marciano — Auburn (↓ from No. 1)

Season: 1.30 ERA, 0.67 WHIP — 3-1, 56K / 6BB (41.1 IP)
Past week: 5.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R (2 ER), 2 BB, 5 K

Marciano had his first “human” outing of the year against Alabama.

Alabama got to him a little bit the third time through the lineup, but the overall body of work still speaks for itself. He remains one of the most consistent arms in the SEC.

6. William Schmidt — LSU (↑ from No. 11)

Season: 2.57 ERA, 1.14 WHIP — 4-1, 49K / 11BB (35 IP)
Past week: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K

Schmidt continues to come into his own as a major league-caliber starter.

He held down the staff this weekend and continues to trend toward being one of the more reliable arms in the conference.

7. Luke Harrison — Texas (↑ from No. 15)

Season: 2.65 ERA, 1.21 WHIP — 3-0, 37K / 14BB (37.1 IP)
Past week: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 6 K

Harrison had another strong outing in the middle of Texas’ rotation.

He continues to give them a reliable number two behind Riojas and fits perfectly into how Texas is structured.

8. Dylan Volantis — Texas (↓ from No. 7)

Season: 2.08 ERA, 1.15 WHIP — 3-0, 51K / 14BB (39 IP)
Past week: 5.2 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 7 K

Volantis wasn’t as sharp this weekend but still gave Texas a chance to complete the sweep.

The overall body of work remains strong, and he continues to be a key piece of that rotation.

9. Zane Adams — Alabama (↑ from No. 23)

Season: 3.21 ERA, 1.09 WHIP — 4-1, 50K / 8BB (42 IP)
Past week: 6.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 8 K

Adams jumps into the top 10 after back-to-back strong outings.

Against a top Auburn team, he controlled the game and continues to show that he can be a reliable weekend arm.

10. LJ Mercurius — Oklahoma (↓ from No. 4)

Season: 3.53 ERA, 1.18 WHIP — 5-2, 49K / 13BB (35.1 IP)
Past week: 2.0 IP, 10 H, 7 ER, 3 BB, 1 K

Mercurius drops after getting roughed up in the Texas rivalry series.

He took the ball in a tough spot and wore it for his team, but the outing inflated his numbers and drops him in the rankings.

11. Hunter Elliott — Ole Miss (↓ from No. 9)

Season: 3.72 ERA, 1.29 WHIP — 3-0, 51K / 22BB (36 IP)
Past week: 5.1 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 7 K

Elliott had another solid outing this weekend, and if it wasn’t for the bullpen blowing the lead in the ninth, Ole Miss could have taken that Friday night game.

He continues to show why he’s a reliable veteran Friday night starter. The strikeouts are high, and while he does put some guys on base, he limits hits well enough to balance it out and keep his team in games.

12. Aidan King — Florida (↑ from No. 16)

Season: 1.99 ERA, 1.14 WHIP — 3-2, 33K / 9BB (31.1 IP)
Past week: 3.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 3 K

King didn’t have his best outing this weekend, but the overall body of work still speaks for itself. His ranking change is a reflection of the that plus the contributions to a great weekend.

Florida swept Arkansas in a big weekend, and he continues to be a steady number two starter for them. Even when he’s not at his best, he competes and gives them a chance.

13. Liam Peterson — Florida (↓ from No. 10)

Season: 3.74 ERA, 1.31 WHIP — 1-1, 55K / 22BB (33.1 IP)
Past week: 4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 6 BB, 7 K

Peterson stays on this list because of his raw stuff, but the command issues are still there.

He actually kept Florida in the game against Arkansas and battled well, but six walks in four innings tells the story. The upside is still as high as anyone in the SEC, but the command is what’s holding him back right now.

14. Andreas Alvarez — Auburn (Previous: Unranked)

Season: 0.85 ERA, 0.98 WHIP — 4-1, 45K / 10BB (31.1 IP)
Past week: —

This is his first time in the rankings, and honestly, shame on me for not having him here earlier.

The numbers are impressive, and after going back and watching him, the stuff backs it up. Mid-90s fastball, a big breaking ball with depth in the mid-70s, and he can tighten it up into more of a slider look. He’s performed against good competition and now is stepping into the front of Auburn’s weekend rotation, which tells you everything you need to know.

Enjoy some punchies! Two of these dudes are going to be 1st Rounders in a couple months also, for context (Drew Burress and Vahn Lackey).

15. Joey Volchko — Georgia (↑ from No. 26)

Season: 3.93 ERA, 1.43 WHIP — 5-0, 39K / 18BB (34 IP)
Past week: 6.2 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 4 BB, 6 K

Volchko continues to be a solid Friday night arm for Georgia, but I’m still hard on him because of the walks.

He’s got to fill up the zone more and go deeper into games, especially with how good that offense is. The stuff is there, but the command keeps him from moving higher on this list.

16. Colin Fisher — Arkansas (↓ from No. 12)

Season: 3.34 ERA, 1.05 WHIP — 2-3, 40K / 7BB (32 IP)
Past week: 2.1 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 0 BB, 2 K

This is back-to-back weekends now where Fisher has only gone a few innings, and I’m starting to call this “Sunday syndrome.”

In these weekend series, when games get tight, teams are going to their high-leverage relievers earlier, and he’s getting pulled into that a little bit. The season numbers are still strong, but it’s something to monitor in terms of role and usage.

17. Gabe Gaeckle — Arkansas (↓ from No. 13)

Season: 3.62 ERA, 1.55 WHIP — 3-2, 38K / 15BB (32 IP)
Past week: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 4 BB, 0 K

Gaeckle had a really tough outing this weekend and it inflates the numbers a bit.

For a Friday night guy, the numbers aren’t where you’d expect them to be, but the stuff is still first-round caliber. He just has to find consistency and command, and if he does, he’ll shoot back up this list quickly.

18. Casan Evans — LSU (↓ from No. 8)

Season: 5.00 ERA, 1.25 WHIP — 2-1, 53K / 19BB (36 IP)
Past week: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 6 BB, 3 K

Evans falls a bit because the thing that has hurt him all year showed up again—the walks.

That said, it was still an impressive outing in the sense that he battled through six innings after struggling early. When he throws strikes, and gets ahead early, he’s dominant. When he doesn’t, it gets tough. That’s the separator for him right now.

19. Hunter Dietz — Arkansas (↑ from No. 25)

Season: 4.19 ERA, 1.22 WHIP — 2-2, 58K / 14BB (34 IP)
Past week: 4.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 4 BB, 4 K

Dietz continues to strike guys out at a high level and be a steady Saturday arm.

The outing was just okay this weekend, but the strikeout numbers continue to jump off the page for a top Arkansas team.

20. Connor Fennell — Vanderbilt (↑ from No. 34)

Season: 4.89 ERA, 1.11 WHIP — 2-1, 52K / 9BB (38.1 IP)
Past week: 7.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 9 K

Fennell had a really impressive outing against Tennessee and looked like the Friday night guy Vanderbilt wants him to be.

He carried a no-hitter deep into the game and showed what his ceiling looks like when everything is working.

Fennell throws from a very unique vertical approach angle, which means his fastball creates that “invisiball” effect, and even at 88-91mph, he generates a ton of swings and misses.

21. Jackson Sanders — Auburn (↓ from No. 19)

Season: 3.27 ERA, 1.02 WHIP — 2-1, 59K / 10BB (44 IP)
Past week: 5.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R (1 ER), 1 BB, 6 K

Sanders continues to just put up solid numbers as a number two starter, and doesn’t really deserve to “drop” in the rankings.

He throws strikes, competes, and gives Arkansas consistent innings every weekend. It will be interesting to see which weekend arm is bumped out of the rotation with Alvarez throwing in the Thursday-Saturday series.

22. Cade Townsend — Ole Miss (↓ from Top 15 pre-injury)

Season: 1.90 ERA, 1.01 WHIP — 2-1, 40K / 7BB (23.1 IP)
Past week: 4.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 8 K

Townsend returned from injury and showed flashes of how good he can be.

The stuff is really nasty, and once he gets fully stretched back out, he has a chance to climb quickly again. Townsend’s health is critical to Ole Miss’s success this season, imo. The 1-2 combo of Elliot/Townsend will compete with any combo in the league.

23. Alec Petrovic — Auburn (↓ from No. 21)

Season: 2.80 ERA, 0.99 WHIP — 4-1, 41K / 8BB (35 IP)
Past week: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 6 K

Petrovic continues to be a very reliable Sunday starter for Auburn.

He filled up the zone, limited damage, and continues to do exactly what they need from that spot in the rotation.

24. Cam Johnson — Oklahoma (↑ from No. 28)

Season: 3.00 ERA, 1.40 WHIP — 3-1, 44K / 22BB (30 IP)
Past week: 5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 8 K

Johnson had a really nice bounce-back outing against Texas.

The walks are still a concern, but when he limits hits like he did this weekend, he can dominate. That’s what makes him so intriguing and only one hit against that Texas line-up shows the upside.

25. Shane Sdao — Texas A&M (↓ from No. 17)

Season: 5.86 ERA, 1.27 WHIP — 3-1, 42K / 6BB (39 IP)
Past week: 4.2 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 2 BB, 9 K

Sdao falls a bit after getting hit around the third time through the lineup at Mizzou.

That said, he continues to throw strikes and compete, and with Texas A&M’s offense, that’s still a valuable profile for a Friday night starter. If he can give A&M quality starts on Friday and they can rely on him to throw strikes and fill up the zone, it’s a win for them on the weekend.

Notable Mentions / Notes

• Duke Stone — Mississippi State
  This was a mistake on my part to not have him included in the top 25 starters. Stone is the number three starter behind Ryan McPherson (injured) and Tomas Valincius at Mississippi Star and has been stellar all year. He would be between Alvarez and Volchko on my list. He’s rocking a 5-0 record with a 3.66 ERA and solid 45:13 K:BB ratio. Apologies to Duke and the State fans!

• Landon Mack — Tennessee

  Continues to be a solid option for Tennessee. Still gives up some hits and walks, but maintains a strong strikeout profile with a 48-to-16 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

• Cord Rager — Oklahoma
  Continues to be a solid true freshman, helping balance out Oklahoma’s rotation as a reliable third option.

• Aiden Sims — Texas A&M
  Someone to keep an eye on as their Sunday starter. Has been very solid all year and continues to trend in the right direction.

• Evan Blanco — Tennessee
  Struggled on Sunday this weekend, but still has shown enough to be a valuable piece of that staff.

• Brandon Arvidson — Tennessee
  Stepped into a Friday night role and did a nice job holding Tennessee in the game. Interesting development to monitor moving forward.

• Amp Phillips — South Carolina
  Looks like a very good arm from a stuff perspective and continues to put up solid numbers as their number two starter.

• Wyatt Nadeau — Vanderbilt
  Quietly putting together a strong freshman season as Vanderbilt’s Saturday starter. Has pretty electric stuff and real upside.

• Dylan Vigue — Georgia
  Vigue is a power arm who transferred from Michigan and starts on the weekend for this dominant Georgia squad. It seems that Wes Johnson has a quick leash and isn’t afraid to bring Vigue back like he did Sunday, out of the bullpen. We will continue to see how Georgia gets their outs and deploys their power arms.

Closing Thoughts

We’re starting to get real clarity now.

Not just on who has the best stuff, but who can actually go out there, compete, and execute within the structure of a weekend series in the SEC.

Roles are becoming more defined. Rotations are starting to settle. And you can see which teams are built on traditional starting pitching and which ones are going to have to get creative and piece things together.

As we move forward, the next layer of this is going to be the bullpens.

Because some of the best arms in this conference aren’t starting—they’re finishing games, controlling leverage, and ultimately deciding series.

And once we start identifying those guys consistently, we’ll have an even clearer picture of how these staffs are really built to win in the SEC.

Friday night across the SEC gave us a little bit of everything again — late-inning swings, bullpen chaos, and a few arms that continue to separate themselves as true Friday night guys.

This version is a quick “in case you missed it” snapshot as we roll into Saturday, with most series now shifting into Game 2 — and one already decided.

Here’s how things unfolded around the league.

Texas 4, Oklahoma 3 (10 innings)

Texas wins series 2–0

Texas is the first team in the conference to lock up a series this weekend.

Oklahoma controlled most of this game early, building a 3–0 lead and holding it deep into the game before things unraveled in the seventh. Texas strung together a sequence of walks — including four in a row — to get back into it and manufacture runs late.

Cam Johnson returned to form firing 5 innings of one-hit ball, walking a few batters, but overall looking pretty dominant.

In the bottom of the 10th, Ashton Larson delivered the game-winner, singling home the winning run to secure the series for Texas.

A gritty comeback win, and Texas now looks to complete the sweep behind Dylan Volantis today, with a fresh bullpen behind him as they have only used Sam Cozart thus far out of the pen.

Georgia 5, South Carolina 2

Georgia handled business at home behind another strong outing from Joey Volchko.

Volchko improved to 5–0, going six and two-thirds innings with six strikeouts. He allowed two earned runs on seven hits and walked four, but controlled the game when it mattered.

Daniel Jackson provided the big swing, launching a grand slam and finishing with four RBIs — the difference in the game.

Texas A&M 10, Missouri 7

This one almost got away from Texas A&M.

The Aggies jumped out to a 10–1 lead before Missouri made a serious push, scoring six runs in the fifth inning to turn it into a game.

Shane Sdao struggled to finish his outing, allowing seven earned runs over four and two-thirds innings. Missouri starter Josh McDevitt also had a tough night, giving up four runs while walking four.

Texas A&M ultimately held on, but this is the type of game that can carry over into the rest of a series.

Alabama 11, Auburn 1 (8 innings)

Alabama continues to roll.

The Crimson Tide run-ruled No. 5 Auburn in a statement win, handing Jake Marciano his most human outing of the season. Marciano allowed four runs (two earned), marking the first time a lineup has really gotten to him this year.

On the other side, Tyler Fay followed up last week’s no-hitter with another strong performance. Fay went five innings, allowing just one hit and one run while striking out hitters efficiently before being lifted around 85 pitches.

A very complete win for Alabama.

Florida 9, Arkansas 4

Florida bounced back in a big way on the road.

Neither Friday night starter had it. Gabe Gaeckle didn’t make it out of the second inning, walking four batters in just an inning and two-thirds. Liam Peterson also battled command issues and didn’t get deep into the game.

But Florida responded after last weekend’s sweep with a strong offensive performance, taking Game 1 in Fayetteville and flipping early weekend momentum.

Kentucky 8, LSU 4

Kentucky came out aggressive and never really let LSU settle in.

Casan Evans struggled with command, walking six hitters in just three innings and putting LSU behind early.

Jaxon Jelkin continues to look like one of the top arms in the conference. He improved to 6–0, going eight innings while allowing two earned runs and striking out seven.

Kentucky controlled this one from the jump, even with LSU making a late push in the ninth.

Mississippi State 5, Ole Miss 4

This was a back-and-forth game in Oxford that flipped late.

Mississippi State held a 3–1 lead through six innings before Ole Miss responded in the seventh to take a 4–3 lead.

But the Bulldogs answered again in the ninth, retaking the lead and closing it out 5–4.

Hunter Elliott gave Ole Miss a solid start, going five and a third innings while allowing three runs on four hits, but Mississippi State did damage the third time through the order.

Ole Miss reliever, Taylor Rabe, their high-leverage arm threw 2.2 innings (56 pitches) which will be interesting to see if he can bounce back for the rest of the weekend.

Vanderbilt 3, Tennessee 2 (10 innings)

Another extra-inning game in a rivalry that continues to deliver.

Connor Fennell was outstanding for Vanderbilt, taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning and finishing with seven and a third innings, allowing just three hits and two runs (one earned) with nine strikeouts and one walk.

Tennessee starter Brandon Arvidson matched him well, striking out seven over five innings while allowing two earned runs.

The game was tied 2–2 heading into extras before Vanderbilt walked it off in the bottom of the 10th.

Final Thoughts

This is exactly what SEC weekends look like.

Late leads disappearing, bullpens being tested early in series, and a few arms beginning to separate themselves as true tone-setters on Friday nights.

With Texas already securing a series win and several others setting up tight Game 2 matchups, Saturday becomes a swing day across the conference.

And if Friday night was any indication, there’s going to be a lot more movement before the weekend is over.

We already had one game played to kick off the weekend.

Texas hosted Oklahoma and absolutely worked them in a seven-inning run rule, winning 14–0. Ruger Riojas threw a complete game shutout, and Texas jumped on LJ Mercurius early with four runs in the first inning and never really looked back. They kept their foot on the pedal the entire game and took a commanding series lead, and expect them to finish off the series, likely tonight.

Now shifting into the rest of the weekend, here’s what I’m looking at across the SEC.

South Carolina at #7 Georgia

This weekend, I’m really looking at Georgia’s starting pitching.

South Carolina’s batting average is near the bottom of the league — actually the worst in the league — and in most other offensive categories, they’re sitting in the bottom five as well.

So for me, this is a weekend where I want to see Georgia’s pitchers come out and throw strikes.

With how good Georgia’s offense is, they shouldn’t have a shortage of scoring runs. The weather is supposed to be beautiful in Athens, so everything lines up for them offensively.

I’m looking for Joey Volchko to fill up the zone, for Dylan Vigue to have a good weekend, and to see how Georgia deploys the rest of their bullpen.

I think Georgia should take at least two out of three, but I do think South Carolina could sneak a win.

Prediction: Georgia takes 2 of 3

#5 Auburn at Alabama

I think Auburn takes two out of three this weekend.

For me, it comes down to the consistency of Auburn’s starting pitching versus the inconsistency of Alabama.

Alabama just got swept and then turned around and swept Florida, so it’s been a little all over the place. Their offense has been inconsistent, and they haven’t been able to string things together.

Auburn’s pitching has been more consistent overall, even though Sanders and Petrovic got hit around a little bit by Texas last weekend. Texas is really, really good, so I don’t put too much weight into that.

I expect Auburn to bounce back.

That said, Alabama at home in a rivalry weekend is always going to be a hostile environment. I’m also watching how Tyler Fay bounces back after throwing 132 pitches. Him and Zane Adams are always a tough one-two combo, especially at home.

But overall, I think Auburn is a good enough team to win this series.

Prediction: Auburn takes 2 of 3

Florida at #4 Arkansas

This is one where I’m going a little against what you’d expect.

It’s really hard to go into Arkansas and win a series. I love their starting rotation, their bullpen, and just their staff as a whole, and Dave Van Horn always has his teams ready.

But for some reason, this feels like a weekend where Florida takes care of business.

They just went out and beat Florida State 5–0 this week at a neutral site, and I fully expect Kevin O’Sullivan to have his team ready.

I think Florida comes in and finds a way to win two out of three.

Prediction: Florida takes 2 of 3

#25 Texas A&M at Missouri

Texas A&M is ranked, and I do think they’re a top 25 team, but I think Missouri wins this series.

Josh McDevitt is starting Friday night, and he’s kind of hit or miss, but the numbers are good. He’s 4–1 with an ERA under 3, more strikeouts than innings pitched, and he has good stuff.

If he’s on, he can shut down an offense.

Missouri also plays well at home. They played Auburn really tight in all three games, and I expect them to do the same here.

And with Texas A&M getting swept by Missouri last year, I think there’s a little bit of pressure there too.

For whatever reason, I feel like Missouri edges them this weekend.

Prediction: Missouri takes 2 of 3

#19 Kentucky at LSU

I think LSU is in danger this weekend.

Kentucky is a scrappy team. They take pitches, they work counts, and they’re probably not the team LSU wants to see right now while they’re scuffling a bit.

That said, Kentucky has some inconsistency.

Ben Cleaver has moved to Sunday, and Nate Harris jumping up into Saturday gives LSU a bit of an advantage, especially at home, in my opinion.

They’re going to have their hands full in game one against Jaxon Jeklkin, but I do think LSU finds a way.

This feels like a must-win series for them at the Box, and I think Jay Johnson has his squad ready.

Prediction: LSU takes 2 of 3

#6 Mississippi State at #19 Ole Miss

As tough as it is to go into Swayze Field and win a series, I think Mississippi State is just the better team right now.

I think they’re deeper.

They are losing Ryan McPherson on Friday night, and Charlie Fosterr is going to fill in, which is something to watch.

On the Ole Miss side, I’m really watching Hunter Elliott.

How does the command look? Do the command issues show up again, or does he come out and set the tone?

If Elliott comes out and throws strikes, I could absolutely see Ole Miss taking this series.

But overall, I’m leaning Mississippi State.

Prediction: Mississippi State takes 2 of 3

#21 Tennessee at Vanderbilt

For some reason, I think this is a weekend where Vanderbilt’s bats outmatch Tennessee’s arms.

Teagan Kuhns has been moved out of the weekend rotation and isn’t starting, which is a little surprising. Brandon Arvidson is stepping into that Friday night role.

That changes things for me.

If Vanderbilt gets a quality start from Connor Fennell on Friday night, and with Wyatt Nadeau being solid on Saturdays in Austin Nye’s place, I think they have a real chance.

At home, I think Vanderbilt finds a way.

Prediction: Vanderbilt takes 2 of 3

Weekend Picks

Texas over Oklahoma (Game 1 already complete)
Georgia over South Carolina
Auburn over Alabama
Florida over Arkansas
Missouri over Texas A&M
LSU over Kentucky
Mississippi State over Ole Miss
Vanderbilt over Tennessee

There’s a point every year where you don’t need a calendar to tell you baseball is back.

You can feel it.

The air shifts. The days stretch. The fields start to thaw. And in a city like Detroit—when the Detroit Tigers are playing meaningful baseball again—you can sense the energy building.

For anyone who’s played this game, this is the time of year that brings everything back.

And in Metro Detroit, that feeling showed up in full yesterday.

Brother Rice Sets the Tone on Opening Day

Brother Rice opened its season at Oakland University against one of the top teams in the state—and left no doubt about the standard they’re playing to early.

They took both games.

The first was tight. The second, more decisive. But both told the same story.

Game One — Winning Without Needing Volume

Brother Rice took game one 4–3, despite being out-hit.

They only collected three hits on the day—but found ways to manufacture runs early and control the game from there.

They struck first in the opening inning, capitalizing on situational execution—pushing across runs on a ground ball and a productive out. An inning later, plate discipline showed up, with a walk extending the lead to 3–0.

They added one more in the third on a sacrifice fly—again, not flashy, but effective.

And that was enough.

Cole Duhaime set the tone on the mound, going four innings, allowing just one run on five hits while striking out seven and walking none. The combo of him and Broder Katke is not fair for a high school baseball battery.

Offensively, contributions were spread out:

• Tristan Turner, Michael Stanton, and Broder Katke each recorded a hit

• F Beyer drove in a run

• The group drew six walks, showing early-season discipline

It wasn’t about overpowering St. Mary’s.

It was about playing clean baseball—and letting the game come to them.

Game Two — Letting the Offense Open Up

Game two flipped the script.

After falling behind early, Brother Rice responded immediately—and never looked back, winning 8–3.

They answered a three-run deficit with a steady, controlled offensive approach:

• Michael Stanton got things started early

• Tristan Turner delivered a game-tying hit in the second

• In the fourth, Maksim Neshov broke the game open with an RBI single

• Stanton followed with a double to extend the lead

From there, they kept pressure on.

Brother Rice finished with nine hits and applied constant stress on the defense:

• Stanton, Katke, and Beyer each collected two hits

• Turner, Stanton, and Katke all drove in two runs

• The team added five stolen bases, showing aggressiveness on the basepaths

On the mound, the group did enough early and let the offense take over. Grady Preston started the game, striking out 5 over 3 innings, and Ethan Reidy threw two hitless, shutout inning to get the save.

Two games. Two different styles.

Same result.

A Program Built to Sustain This

What you’re seeing at Brother Rice right now isn’t new.

It’s the result of a system.

Head coach Bob Riker has built one of the most respected high school programs in the country—not just by stacking talent, but by creating alignment.

Around 60 players are brought into the program each year. Not separated by labels, but connected through a standard.

That’s an important distinction.

Because what shows up on opening day isn’t built in a week. It’s built over years—through repetition, accountability, and consistency.

Talent That Reflects the Culture

The roster features some of the top players in the state, highlighted recently by Michigan Prep Baseball Report.

But what stands out isn’t just the talent.

It’s the way they carry themselves.

Junior Broder Katke (Vanderbilt commit), one of the top prospects in the country, plays with a presence that goes beyond his age. When he joined me on the Up & In Show, one thing came through clearly—he’s invested in the group.

He wants to win with these guys.

And that shows up on the field.

Paired with Duhaime, who leads more quietly but just as effectively, this team has something you can’t fake—players who genuinely play for each other.

That matters more than anything in March.

The Ecosystem Around It

Programs like this don’t operate in isolation.

What’s happening at Brother Rice is supported by a larger structure:

• DJ LeMahieu helping elevate resources and vision

• Daily development work at the Stevens Complex

• Paul Fry bringing a major league standard to strength and conditioning

• Integration with Warrior Baseball at the youth level

• Ongoing pitching development through Mike Steele

This is what a fully connected development system looks like.

And it’s starting to show.

From Youth to Varsity — The Next Layer

That connection is what this Warrior Report is built to track.

Because the varsity team isn’t the starting point.

It’s the current stage and the next group is already on its way.

The Warrior Baseball Club Orange 11U team moved to 25–0 this past weekend, winning a tournament and continuing one of the strongest starts you’ll see at that level.

Lucas Tocca, JJ Lupienski and Andrew Kives are leading the offensive charge. Tocca is batting .621 with 5 HR and 40 RBI, Lupienski is batting .552 with 4 HR and 25 RBI, while Andrew Kives is batting .465 with 4 HR and 29 RBI.

On the bump, Graeme Kisabeth is leading the way with a 0.00 ERA, but what impressed me the most…. his strike-out to walk ratio: 32:9. And the 32 K’s in 14.2 IP is very impressive, equating to a wile 19.6 K/9.

Kisabeth has also only allowed one hit so far in those 14+ innings, which means there are basically no base runners when he is on the bump!

For full team stats, check out their team GameChanger page.

These players are the players that are working with Mike Steele and myself weekly to instill the baseball habits needed to play every day, all while they are also learning how to compete now.

And in a few years, they’ll be stepping into environments like the Brother Rice program—playing meaningful games, in meaningful moments.

What Else This Could Be Building Toward

This is also bigger than a season.

What’s happening across Metro Detroit—at the youth level, at Brother Rice, and with summer experiences like the Leprechauns—is building toward something that hasn’t fully existed here before.

A complete pathway.

And eventually, it could lead to something like a Metro Detroit Development League.

A place where:

• high school players

• college players

• former pros

• and players still chasing opportunities

All share the same field with real at-bats, competition, and evaluation.

And when that happens, it won’t feel new.

Because the players, the stories, and the development will already be documented here.

Early Takeaway

It’s week one of the high school season.

But it’s a clear one.

Brother Rice didn’t just win on opening day.

They looked like a team—and a program—that understands what it takes to sustain success.

And as the weather continues to turn, and the season starts to unfold, that’s what we’ll be tracking here.

Not just results.

But development.

Through the first few weeks of the season, my goal was simple: learn as much as possible about as many arms as possible.

That’s why you saw this list stretch out to 40+ pitchers early on. Non-conference play is fluid—guys are getting innings, coaches are experimenting, and rotations aren’t always locked in. It’s an opportunity to evaluate depth, identify emerging roles, and understand how staffs are being built—not just for now, but for later in the season and even into next year with how the transfer portal and NIL continue to shape rosters.

Now, two weeks into SEC play, things start to tighten up.

Roles become clearer. Friday night guys separate themselves. And you get a much better feel for which arms are actually built to handle this level week in and week out.

So moving forward, we’re narrowing this down to a Top 30 Starting Pitcher Power Rankings.

Outside of that, we’ll still track the rest of the league through:

• Notable Mentions

• Emerging Arms

• Injury Report

At the same time, another piece of this is starting to come into focus—the bullpens.

Some of the best arms in the SEC right now are not starting games. They’re pitching in the highest leverage spots, and in some cases, they’re the guys who will move the fastest at the next level.

As we continue to gather more information, we’ll begin breaking down bullpen usage and eventually move toward bullpen rankings and full staff evaluations.

Because at this level, it’s not just about who starts the game—it’s about how you finish it.

Top 30 SEC Starting Pitcher Power Rankings

1. Jake Marciano — Auburn (Ranking: unchanged)

Season: 1.00 ERA, 0.56 WHIP — 3-0, 51K / 4BB (36 IP)
Past week: 7.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 9 K

Marciano continues his spectacular transition into the SEC from Virginia Tech. He pitched seven innings of one-run ball with just two hits and nine strikeouts against Texas this weekend.

The Marciano kid continues to prove that knowing how to pitch and get outs is one of the most valuable things in baseball. He’s not overpowering—88 to 91 with a good slider and a changeup—but he commands the baseball, works to certain portions of the zone, and can dominate right-handed hitters as a left-handed pitcher. He has been extremely dominant so far in the SEC, and that’s why he stays at number one.

2. Ruger Riojas — Texas (Ranking: unchanged)

Season: 1.93 ERA, 0.83 WHIP — 4-0, 56K / 5BB (32.2 IP)
Past week: 6.1 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 6 K

Riojas had another great outing against a very good Auburn team. He continues to show a dominant multi-pitch mix with five or six different looks, tunneling everything and manipulating shapes.

He looks like a true Friday night starter for one of the best teams in the country. The ability to mix, match, and sequence at that level makes him extremely difficult to game plan for.

3. Tomas Valincius — Mississippi State (↑ from No. 4)

Season: 1.04 ERA, 0.87 WHIP — 5-0, 47K / 9BB (34.2 IP)
Past week: 7.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R (0 ER), 1 BB, 14 K

Valincius continues to look electric. Fourteen strikeouts against a good Vanderbilt offense speaks for itself.

He’s a power lefty with a mid-90s fastball who really knows how to pitch. Brian O’Connor has transitioned him really well into the SEC, and with McPherson’s injury, it looks like he could slide into that Friday night role without Mississippi State missing a beat.

4. LJ Mercurius — Oklahoma (↑ from No. 7)

Season: 1.87 ERA, 0.86 WHIP — 5-1, 48K / 10BB (33.2 IP)
Past week: 5.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 7 K

Mercurius had a really nice outing at LSU and continues to show why he’s one of the more composed arms in the conference.

Even when the velocity isn’t at its peak, the mound presence stands out. He repeats his delivery, shapes his pitches well, and commands the zone. It never looked like the moment was too big for him at Alex Box, and that ability to stay under control is what really jumps out.

5. Tyler Fay — Alabama (↑ from No. 33)

Season: 4.06 ERA, 0.88 WHIP — 4-2, 47K / 8BB (37.2 IP)
Past week: 9.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 13 K (No-Hitter)

Fay had one of the most historic performances in Alabama baseball history with a nine-inning no-hitter against Florida.

He continues to fill up the zone, get swings and misses, and comes at hitters with a steep angle from a tall frame. Sitting low to mid-90s, he showed his ceiling this weekend against a really talented Florida lineup, and that performance pushes him into the top five.

6. Jaxon Jelkin — Kentucky (↑ from No. 12)

Season: 2.94 ERA, 0.98 WHIP — 5-0, 37K / 8BB (33.2 IP)
Past week: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 6 K

Jelkin had a strong bounce-back performance at Ole Miss in a tough environment, giving his team a chance to win the series.

He continues to look like a major leaguer. With his size, stuff, and ability to pitch, there’s no reason he shouldn’t be in first-round conversations. He looks like a guy who could move quickly through pro ball.

7. Dylan Volantis — Texas (↑ from No. 5)

Season: 1.35 ERA, 1.02 WHIP — 3-0, 44K / 12BB (33.1 IP)
Past week: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 4 BB, 4 K

Volantis continues to do what he does—compete and give his team a chance to win.

Even with some command issues this weekend, he still put Texas in position to take a series against a top-five team. He looks like the same guy who dominated as a reliever last year, now successfully transitioning into a starter role.

8. Casan Evans — LSU (↑ from No. 35)

Season: 4.80 ERA, 1.17 WHIP — 2-0, 50K / 13BB (30 IP)
Past week: 7.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R (0 ER), 1 BB, 15 K

Evans had a masterful performance against a top-10 Oklahoma team, striking out 15 and going deep into the game.

Earlier in the year, he was a victim of some bad luck—his underlying metrics like FIP suggested he was throwing better than his ERA showed. This weekend, everything lined up. He got ahead of hitters, put them away early, and was able to work deep into the game. That was a huge outing for him and a big statement as LSU’s Friday night guy.

9. Hunter Elliott — Ole Miss (↑ from No. 19)

Season: 3.48 ERA, 1.32 WHIP — 3-0, 44K / 20BB (31 IP)
Past week: 6.1 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 K

Elliott had a nice bounce-back start in an important Thursday night game against Kentucky. He did everything you would expect from an experienced Friday night guy.

This is one of the most established starters in the SEC from an innings and big-game standpoint. Early in the year, I was concerned with the command issues and the way Cade Townsend was throwing, but Elliott answered that this weekend. Only two walks against a very mature Kentucky lineup that likes to be patient is a huge confidence piece for me going forward, and for Ole Miss as well.

10. Liam Peterson — Florida (↓ from No. 3)

Season: 4.15 ERA, 1.22 WHIP — 1-1, 48K / 16BB (30.1 IP)
Past week: 3.0 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 2 BB, 4 K

Peterson struggled this weekend, and when he struggles, it usually comes down to command.

He was on a really nice three-to-four week stretch, but when he loses command, he’s forced into certain counts and has to throw certain pitches, and SEC lineups like Alabama will take advantage of that. That said, this is still probably the most electric arm in the SEC from a pure stuff standpoint with four-plus pitches and elite upside as a major league starter, so I still have him in the top 10.

11. William Schmidt — LSU (↓ from No. 9)

Season: 3.00 ERA, 1.07 WHIP — 3-1, 46K / 9BB (30 IP)
Past week: 4.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 7 K

Schmidt stays here because of the upside. This is a guy who has all the makings of a number one starter profile at the major league level.

This weekend, the pitch count got a little high, which tells you he was falling behind hitters or not putting them away efficiently. That’s the next step in his development—getting ahead and finishing hitters in three or four pitches like Kacen did. But the talent and profile are still elite.

12. Colin Fisher — Arkansas (↓ from No. 11)

Season: 2.70 ERA — 2-2, 38K / 7BB (30 IP)
Past week: —

Fisher continues to be a staple for a very good Arkansas team and just keeps putting together a strong body of work.

13. Gabe Gaeckle — Arkansas (↓ from No. 14)

Season: 2.87 ERA — 3-1, 38K / 11BB (31.1 IP)
Past week: —

Gaeckle did everything to put his team in position to win against South Carolina.

The one thing that stands out to me is the hits—34 hits in 31 innings is a little alarming for a guy with his level of stuff. But he still profiles as a first-round type arm and continues to anchor that rotation for a top Arkansas team.

14. Tegan Kuhns — Tennessee (↑ from No. 17)

Season: 4.35 ERA, 1.10 WHIP — 40K / 5BB (31 IP)
Past week: 3.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 5 K

Kuhns took the loss against Missouri, but I’m not holding that against him.

Missouri is a much improved team, and Tennessee still won the series. Even with giving up some hits this year, he continues to look like an elite starter and a very good professional pitching prospect. The delivery and the way his body moves through space reminds me a lot of Jacob deGrom, and the command—five walks to 40 strikeouts—is elite.

15. Luke Harrison — Texas (↑ from No. 22)

Season: 2.37 ERA, 1.25 WHIP — 2-0, 31K / 12BB (30.1 IP)
Past week: 5.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 6 K

Harrison had another nice outing against a top-five team and continues to build a strong body of work.

He looks like a really solid number two starter for one of the best teams in the country and continues to give Texas a chance to win every weekend.

16. Aidan King — Florida (↓ from No. 10)

Season: 1.27 ERA, 1.02 WHIP — 3-2, 30K / 7BB (28.1 IP)
Past week: 5.0 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 BB, 4 K

King gave up his first earned runs of the year this weekend.

He’s still been really effective overall, but this was a tougher outing against Alabama. Still a very solid number two behind Peterson.

17. Shane Sdao — Texas A&M (↓ from No. 21)

Season: 4.15 ERA — 3-1, 38K / 4BB (34.1 IP)
Past week: 5.2 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 1 BB, 11 K

Sdao had a tough outing against a very good Georgia offense, but still showed what makes him valuable.

He throws strikes, limits walks, and gives his team innings. With Texas A&M’s offense, that’s exactly what they need out of a Friday night starter.

18. Dylan Vigue — Georgia (Ranking: unchanged)

Season: 2.30 ERA, 0.95 WHIP — 34K / 9BB (27.1 IP)
Past week: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 5 K

Vigue continues to do his job as Georgia’s Saturday starter.

He fills up the zone, throws strikes, and competes against really good offenses. As a transfer from Michigan, he looks like he’s handling the SEC just fine.

19. Jackson Sanders — Auburn (↓ from No. 8)

Season: 3.66 ERA, 1.03 WHIP — 45K / 8BB (32 IP)
Past week: 2.2 IP, 6 H, 6 R (4 ER), 3 BB, 4 K

Sanders falls a bit after getting beat up by a really good Texas team. We can’t hold it against him too much because I think we’re going to look back on that lineup and talk about five or six big leaguers in it.

Even with the outing, the season numbers are still really strong, and he has that funky Madison Bumgarner-type delivery that makes him tough on hitters. He’s still a really good arm for Auburn.

20. Javyn Pimentel — Missouri (Ranking: unchanged)

Season: 3.33 ERA, 1.15 WHIP — 2-0, 25K / 13BB (27.2 IP)
Past week: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 2 K

Pimentel continues to give Mizzou a chance on Friday nights by throwing strikes and keeping them in games.

We’ve talked about Mizzou being much improved, and he’s a big reason why. He’s going to need to miss a few more bats, but he competes and fills up the zone.

21. Alec Petrovic — Auburn (↓ from No. 15)

Season: 2.97 ERA, 1.03 WHIP — 4-0, 35K / 7BB (30.1 IP)
Past week: 3.2 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 K

Petrovic got hit around a bit by Texas and falls a little because of it.

Still, on the year he’s been really solid, and as a Sunday guy for Auburn, he’s going to win a lot of games for them. Health and consistency will be key as the season goes on.

22. Evan Blanco — Tennessee (↑ from No. 30)

Season: 2.73 ERA, 1.03 WHIP — 44K / 15BB (33 IP)
Past week: 7.2 IP, 5 K

Blanco had a really nice outing this weekend, going a career-high 7.2 innings in a Sunday rubber match.

He does struggle with command at times, but he continues to give Tennessee a solid Sunday option and has been trending up.

23. Zane Adams — Alabama (↑ from No. 36)

Season: 4.11 ERA, 1.21 WHIP — 4-1, 33K / 6BB (30.2 IP)
Past week: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 6 K

Adams had a nice outing in Alabama’s sweep of Florida.

He’s an experienced arm who throws strikes and pitches to contact, which helps get quick outs. He’s a solid Saturday option for Alabama.

24. Duke Stone — Mississippi State (↓ from No. 23)

Season: 4.10 ERA, 0.99 WHIP — 4-0, 37K / 5BB (26.1 IP)
Past week: 4.0 IP, 6 H, 6 R (3 ER), 1 BB, 4 K

Stone gave up some runs this weekend, but still continues to show what makes him valuable.

He’s a big-bodied guy who commands the zone well with a three plus pitch arsenal. With McPherson out, it looks like he may move into a bigger role, and I think Mississippi State will be just fine with him and Valincius at the top.

25. Hunter Dietz — Arkansas (↑ from No. 26)

Season: 3.86 ERA — 2-2, 54K / 10BB (30.1 IP)
Past week: —

Dietz is continuing to strike out the world.

For a top Arkansas team, he’s been a big piece, and that 54-to-10 strikeout-to-walk ratio jumps off the page.

26. Joey Volchko — Georgia (↓ from No. 13)

Season: 4.23 ERA, 1.37 WHIP — 33K / 14BB (27.2 IP)
Past week: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 1 K

Volchko drops for me after another outing where command was an issue.

I’ve talked about this before—on Friday nights, you have to fill up the zone. His stuff is good enough, but the walks are holding him back, especially for a team that scores as much as Georgia does.

27. Landon Mack — Tennessee (Ranking: unchanged)

Season: 3.38 ERA, 1.50 WHIP — 39K / 16BB (32 IP)
Past week: 4.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 5 K

Mack’s stuff is all there, but the command continues to be an issue.

He needs to throw more strikes and get deeper into games if he wants to stay in that Saturday role, but the arm talent is real.

28. Cam Johnson — Oklahoma (↓ from No. 16)

Season: 3.60 ERA, 1.48 WHIP — 3-1, 36K / 18BB (25 IP)
Past week: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 5 R (2 ER), 6 BB, 2 K

This one is tough because the stuff is still there.

He’s had two really rough outings in a row, and it feels like it’s more mental than mechanical right now. The delivery looks the same, the stuff looks the same, but he doesn’t seem to trust certain pitches and keeps falling behind hitters. Hopefully he finds it, because the upside is still tremendous.

29. Josh Gunther — South Carolina (↓ from No. 20)

Season: 6.33 ERA, 1.37 WHIP — 2-1, 36K / 10BB (27 IP)
Past week: —

Gunther falls after getting hit hard by Arkansas.

The stuff is still there, and he’s probably still their Friday guy, but that outing inflated the numbers quite a bit.

30. Amp Phillips — South Carolina (↑ from No. 39)

Season: 2.32 ERA, 1.13 WHIP — 2-2, 29K / 14BB (31 IP)
Past week: —

Phillips had another nice outing and continues to give South Carolina a solid option after transferring from USC Upstate.

He’s putting them in position to win games and looks like a good number two starter for them with some real upside.

Notable Mentions

• Cord Rager — Oklahoma: stood strong at LSU’s Alex Box in a rubber game and put them in a position to come back and take the series. Really fun true freshman getting consistent starts on the weekend.

• Aidan Sims — Texas A&M: had a nice outing in A&M’s only win against the elite Georgia offense, and I think he is A&M’s Saturday guy honestly.

• Hunter Calhoun — Ole Miss: new starter who filled in for Cade Townsend. Putting up good numbers so far this season in a mix of bullpen outings and three starts.

• Missouri: Josh McDevitt and Brady Kehlenbrink continue to give Mizzou solid weekend starters, and are a big reason I feel like Missouri will win more games this year. McDevitt is 3-1 with a 3.19 ERA and 1.16 WHIP. He doesn’t give up to many hits (16 in 31 IP) but walks may be an issue, although the 40 Ks helps. Kehlenbrink continues to strike batters out and boasts a 47:7 K:BB ration on Sunday’s.

• Mid week starters: Taylor Tracey (Tennessee) and Andreas Alvarez (Auburn) are putting up some very solid numbers behind the weekend scenes, while mid-week true-freshman, Sam Cozart has graduated from his mid-week dominance to some high-leverage situations for Texas on the weekend.

• Kenny Ishikawa — Georgia (struggling post-injury)

• Nate Harris — Kentucky (rough outing)

• Wyatt Nadeau — Vanderbilt (command issues)

• Connor Fennell — Vanderbilt (hard contact issues)

• Miles Upchurch — Alabama (freshman upside)

• Cooper Walls — Florida (placeholder role, needs to keep developing, in my opinion)

• Wil Libbert — Ole Miss (struggles continue, could be out of the rotation at some point)

Injury Report

• Ryan McPherson — Mississippi State (2–4 weeks)

• Cooper Moore — LSU (triceps inflammation)

• Cade Townsend — Ole Miss (shoulder, likely longer timeline)

• Austin Nye — Vanderbilt (bicep tendonitis)

Closing Thoughts

We’re starting to see separation.

Not just who has the best stuff—but who can actually pitch, compete, and handle the SEC every weekend.

And as this continues to evolve, the next layer of this evaluation is coming:

Bullpens.

Because some of the best arms in this league aren’t starting games—they’re finishing them.

And that’s where this thing is headed next.

We’re now into the part of the season where every weekend starts to mean a little more.

Rotations are being tested. Identities are forming. And more importantly, the questions we had a few weeks ago are starting to get answered — or exposed.

This weekend gives us another full SEC slate, with a couple series starting on Thursday, and a handful of matchups that feel very telling depending on how the starting pitching shows up.

As always, it starts on Friday night — or in this case, Thursday night — with the arms.

Oklahoma at LSU

📍 Alex Box Stadium, Baton Rouge

This is one of the more interesting series of the weekend, especially because it starts on Thursday.

For me, it starts with the Friday night matchup — or Thursday night in this case — between Casan Evans and Cam Johnson.

Both guys struggled with command in their last outings, and that’s something I’m always locked in on. For Friday night starters, it’s about controlling the zone, going deep into the game, and saving your bullpen. That’s the first test right out of the gate this weekend.

If Cam Johnson bounces back and gives Oklahoma a quality start, I think Oklahoma takes this series. LSU is still trying to find itself right now.

On the other side, if Casan Evans comes out and throws the way he’s capable of — and the way Jay Johnson has backed him publicly — then I think LSU feeds off that. If he controls the game early, the crowd gets into it, and that becomes a really tough environment for Oklahoma to play in.

I don’t think it’s out of the question at all for Evans to have a big start. I think he’s very capable and just ran into some bad luck and some unfortunate situations.

But overall, I lean Oklahoma.

LSU has shown some defensive flaws — 26 errors in 22 games, third worst in the SEC — and Oklahoma is very athletic. They’re going to bunt, hit and run, steal bases, and apply pressure. That’s the kind of style that can expose defensive issues.

Prediction: Oklahoma takes the series

Kentucky at Ole Miss

📍 Oxford, MI

I give Kentucky a slight edge in this series, although playing at Ole Miss is never easy.

For Kentucky, I still have some questions about Ben Cleaver on Saturday, specifically his ability to go deep into games. That’s something I’m watching closely.

I do think Ole Miss finds a way to win Saturday, but the biggest swing factor in this series is Hunter Elliott.

What version of Hunter Elliott do we get?

Is it the guy from the past who has been a dominant SEC starter, or is it the version we’ve seen this year that has struggled with command through his first five starts?

If Elliott comes out on Thursday, throws strikes, and gives Ole Miss a quality start, I think they absolutely have a chance to win the weekend.

But overall, I think Kentucky is the better team right now.

Prediction: Kentucky takes the series

Missouri at Tennessee

📍 Tennessee

I think Tennessee wins this series, and I think they win at least two out of three — potentially all three.

Missouri does have some pieces.

Josh McDevitt on Saturday has shown some electric stuff, and Javon Pimentel on Friday has shown leadership and swing-and-miss ability. So this is not a complete walkover.

But Tennessee at home, combined with the strength of their starting rotation, is what gives me the lean here.

Over the course of a weekend, I trust Tennessee’s pitching more.

Prediction: Tennessee takes the series (potential sweep)

Florida at Alabama

📍 Alabama

Alabama is just not playing like the team I thought they were going to be.

They got swept by Kentucky, they lost a midweek game, and their starters have been up and down.

Offensively, Justin Lebron is as advertised, but he’s not getting a lot of support. If you avoid him, teams have had success against Alabama. They also lead the league in runners left on base, which tells you they’re not hitting in the clutch, and their team batting average has been a struggle overall.

On the other side, Florida is playing well.

Liam Peterson on Friday night is going to be tough to beat, and Aiden King has not given up an earned run yet this year as their Saturday starter.

Florida just feels deeper right now.

Prediction: Florida wins the series on the road

Georgia at Texas A&M

📍 Texas A&M

This is a really interesting test for both teams.

Georgia’s offense is elite — that’s clear.

But Texas A&M’s starting pitching has been a little questionable, and that’s where this gets interesting.

I still think Texas A&M takes the series, and I think it’s because their offense is elite enough to match Georgia.

At the same time, this series says a lot about Georgia.

If Georgia goes on the road and wins this series, then we really need to start having a serious conversation about them being one of the top teams in the country.

And on the flip side, if Texas A&M’s pitching can hold up against Georgia’s offense, then that tells you Texas A&M is much improved.

This is a big measuring-stick weekend for both teams.

Prediction: Texas A&M takes the series

Arkansas at South Carolina

📍 South Carolina

South Carolina is just struggling right now.

They’re banged up, they lost a midweek game to Charlotte, and offensively they have not been very potent.

They do have a guy in Josh Gunther on Friday night who is coming off a really strong start against Florida — no runs in six-plus innings — and if they can bridge to Valentin, who can give them length out of the bullpen, they could potentially steal a game.

But overall, I think Arkansas takes care of business.

This feels like a get-right weekend for Arkansas’ starting rotation.

For Gabe Gackle, who is looking to show that Friday night dominance, and for Hunter Dietz and Colin Fisher, who had some questionable starts last weekend, this is an opportunity.

I think Arkansas’ starters have success against a South Carolina offense that is not very dangerous.

Prediction: Arkansas sweeps the series

Texas at Auburn

📍 Auburn

This is the series of the weekend.

You’ve got No. 2 Texas at No. 5 Auburn, and this should be a really competitive three-game set.

Ultimately, I think Texas takes two out of three.

For me, it comes down to the eye test. I think Texas has more major league-type players in their lineup, and over the course of a three-game weekend, I think that talent shows up.

Auburn is very good. They pitch it well. But their staff is not overpowering in a way that you would call elite, high-end, big league stuff across the board.

Texas’ hitters, to me, look like future big leaguers, and I think that gives them the edge over three games.

That said, Auburn is at home, and that matters.

If this series goes into Sunday 1–1, then it gets really interesting.

You potentially get Valantis vs. Petrovic, which could be one of the best Sunday matchups in the country.

Even though Petrovic has been one of the best Sunday starters, I still give the edge to Texas.

Prediction: Texas takes 2 of 3

Vanderbilt at Mississippi State

📍 Dudy Noble Field, Starkville

This is a big weekend for Mississippi State.

It’s their first home SEC weekend under Brian O’Connor at Dudy Noble Field, and that environment is going to matter.

I’ve been very high on Mississippi State’s rotation: McPherson on Friday, Valincius on Saturday, Duke Stone on Sunday.

Now they get a real test.

Vanderbilt’s offense is very dangerous. Even though they’ve been a bit of a question mark as a team overall, their bats are legit.

If Mississippi State’s starters have success this weekend against that lineup, then we’re looking at a team that needs to be seriously considered as a national championship contender.

That’s how I view this series.

I don’t know exactly which Vanderbilt team shows up, but I do think Mississippi State wins the weekend.

Prediction: Mississippi State takes at least 2 of 3

Weekend Picks

Oklahoma over LSU
Kentucky over Ole Miss
Tennessee over Missouri (potential sweep)
Florida over Alabama
Texas A&M over Georgia
Arkansas over South Carolina (sweep)
Texas over Auburn
Mississippi State over Vanderbilt

If you spend enough time around a baseball field at the Stevens Complex in Troy, MI, and all over Metro Detroit— you start to see the same thing over and over again.

Kids showing up early.
Parents investing time, energy, and belief.
Coaches trying to do things the right way.

There’s no shortage of effort.

What there hasn’t been is a consistent way to connect all of it—
to tell the story, to track the development, and to show how it all fits together.

That’s where this comes in.

What Metro Detroit Development Is

This section of the Substack is meant to be simple:

A weekly look into the baseball ecosystem here in Metro Detroit.

Not from a scouting lens.
Not from a rankings lens.

But from a development lens.

We’ll track what’s happening across:

• Youth baseball

• High school programs

• Summer league baseball (like the Royal Oak Leprechauns)

And we’ll do it in a way that’s accessible for families, players, and anyone who cares about the game.

Box scores.
Stat lines.
Observations.

And most importantly—context.

Because development isn’t just about performance.
It’s about progression.

The Leprechaun Report: The End Goal in Sight

If you’ve read the first two Leprechaun Reports, you’ve already seen a piece of this.

The Northwoods League is one of the most competitive summer leagues in the country. It’s where college players go to sharpen their tools, earn bigger roles, and put themselves on the radar.

For players in Metro Detroit, it represents something bigger:

A real, tangible next step.

You can sit in the stands in Royal Oak and watch players who:

• Are coming from major college programs

• Are preparing for the draft

• Are chasing professional baseball

That matters.

Because for a 12-year-old, or a high school freshman, it turns the dream into something visible.

Introducing: The Warrior Report

The next layer of this will be the Warrior Report.

This will focus on:

• Warrior Baseball (youth development)

• Brother Rice Warriors (high school program)

Not to evaluate. Not to rank.

But to highlight:

• Who’s showing up

• Who’s improving

• What’s being built underneath the surface

Because the truth is— the 10U team playing today? Those are the same kids who, in a few years, will be:

• Competing at the high school level

• Fighting for college opportunities

• And eventually trying to find their way into leagues like the Northwoods League

The Warrior Report is about documenting that journey while it’s happening.

Where This Is Going

This isn’t just content.

This is laying the foundation for something bigger: The Metro Detroit Development League.

The vision is simple, but powerful.

A space where:

• High school players

• College players

• Former professional players

• And players still fighting for opportunities

All share the same field.

Real at-bats.
Real competition.
Real development.

And when that launches, it won’t come out of nowhere.

Because we’ll already know the players.
We’ll already understand the landscape.
We’ll already be telling the story.

The kid you read about in a Warrior Report at 12 years old…

Might be stepping into the box in that league at 16 or 17, facing a former pro while he prepares for the MLB Draft or his freshman year of D1 baseball.

That’s the bridge we’re building.

Why It’s Important..

Metro Detroit has talent. It always has. But talent alone isn’t enough.

It needs:

• Visibility

• Structure

• Storytelling

• Investment

This is a small step in that direction.

To bring more attention to the players.
To give families something to follow.
To create a sense of connection across levels.

And ultimately—

To help grow the game in a way that’s intentional.

This is Metro Detroit Baseball Development.

And we’re just getting started.

Conference play has a way of exposing everything.

The margin for error disappears. Lineups are deeper. At-bats are tougher. And what worked in non-conference either sharpens—or gets exposed quickly.

This weekend gave us our first real look at which arms are built for SEC play, which guys are trending into true Friday night roles, and which pitchers still have something to prove.

Here are the updated SEC Starting Pitcher Power Rankings after the first weekend of conference play.

Top 10

1. Jake Marciano — Auburn (↑ from No. 4)

0.93 ERA, 0.55 WHIP — 3-0, 42K / 2BB (29 IP)
Marciano continues to just fill it up—not with overpowering stuff (was 88-90 this weekend for the most part), but by commanding the zone and keeping hitters off balance. Another great outing this weekend with seven shutout innings.

2. Ruger Riojas — Texas (↓ from No. 1)

2.05 ERA, 0.80 WHIP — 4-0, 50K / 4BB (26.1 IP)
A slight blip this weekend going just 4.2 innings, but the overall body of work is still pure dominance—50 strikeouts to only four walks.

3. Liam Peterson — Florida (↑ from No. 13)

2.84 ERA — 44K / 14BB (25 IP)
Climbing fast and looking like a top-10 pick from a stuff, size and profile perspective. The command isn’t perfect, but this is probably the most electric arm in the SEC right now. Peterson was 95-97 most of the game and at times was sitting 98-99 with three other plus pitches. He throws a banger CB at 80-82, a power slider in the mid to upper 80’s and a nice change-up in the mid 80’s as well.

4. Tomas Valincius — Mississippi State (↑ from No. 23)

1.30 ERA, 0.98 WHIP — 4-0, 33K / 8BB (27.2 IP)
Seven innings, two hits, no runs against Arkansas. Power lefty at 94–96 who looks the part in a big way and is helping anchor an elite Mississippi rotation.

5. Dylan Volantis — Texas (↑ from No. 11)

1.53 ERA, 0.92 WHIP — 3-0, 40K / 8BB (29.1 IP)
One of the best outings of the weekend—six innings, one run, 11 strikeouts. The transition to starting looks seamless and you can easily see a pathway from SEC Freshman of the year to SEC Pitcher of the Year, so far.

6. Ryan McPherson — Mississippi State (↓ from No. 5)

2.48 ERA, 1.00 WHIP — 3-0, 36K / 5BB (29 IP)
Looked electric against Arkansas—94–97, touching 98 with a great curveball/cutter mix. A true Friday night presence.

7. LJ Mercurius — Oklahoma (↓ from No. 3)

1.59 ERA, 0.81 WHIP — 4-1, 41K / 8BB (28.1 IP)
Gave up a few runs this weekend—“ballooning” the ERA to 1.59—but still looks the part. Since LJ transferred from UNLV, I am continuing to see how he transitions into the SEC. I think his stuff plays where ever he pitches— I think the key for him is the location of his fastball and making sure it has the ride and late life he had early in the season.

8. Jackson Sanders — Auburn (↑ from No. 15)

2.76 ERA, 0.82 WHIP — 41K / 5BB (29.1 IP)
Seven innings, one run, eight strikeouts. Not as electric velocity-wise, but really solid execution. This weekend I saw him more 90-93, when other times I’ve seen him sitting low to mid 90’s, but his delivery is what creates the deception. His Madison Bumgardner-eque crossfire delivery, he creates some awkward angles and bad swings. Auburn’s rotation is scary if they stay healthy.

9. William Schmidt — LSU (↓ from No. 7)

3.12 ERA, 0.92 WHIP — 39K / 7BB (26 IP)
Still looks like an elite prospect. Some back spasms to monitor, but trending in the right direction, and may be the Friday night starter before you know it. Command will be always be the thing to watch for as he develops in the SEC.

10. Aidan King — Florida (↑ from No. 31)

0.00 ERA, 0.94 WHIP — 3-1, 26K / 3BB (23.1 IP)
Still hasn’t given up an earned run. I’m splitting hairs here—the stuff isn’t as electric, but the results are undeniable. Either way, Florida may have the best 1-2 weekend rotation, right now.

11–25

11. Colin Fisher — Arkansas (↑ from No. 14)

1.95 ERA — 2-1, 36K / 5BB (27.2 IP)

Steady. Nothing special this weekend, nothing bad either, but I love him in Arkansas’ rotation, and the one I trust the most.

12. Jaxson Jelkin — Kentucky (↓ from No. 10)

3.38 ERA, 0.99 WHIP — 4-0, 31K / 5BB (26.2 IP)

Gave up a few runs but continues to look like a steady Friday arm for a Kentucky team that just swept Alabama.

13. Joey Volchko — Georgia (↑ from No. 18)

3.81 ERA, 1.27 WHIP — 4-0, 32K / 10BB (26 IP)

The hits and walks totals are a little high for me for a Friday night guy, but he continues to give Georgia quality innings. And I like Joey more than the Georgia fans think, I have very high expectations for him so I am just holding him to that standard.

14. Gabe Gaeckle — Arkansas (↑ from No. 17)

2.73 ERA — 2-1, 31K / 9BB (26.1 IP)

I really like Gaeckle and I think he suffers from the same expectation bias I have for Volchko. Gaeckle has everything to be a major league pitcher and a 1st round pick in the draft, but I selfishly want to see more fire out of him. At times, for me, it seems he just coasts instead of dominating.

15. Alec Petrovic — Auburn (↑ from No. 32)

7.2 strong innings this weekend. Looks like a really solid Sunday starter in an elite Auburn rotation. Tall RHP from Texas with a big prospect profile, 91-94 and finally coming into his own. Health has held him back in the past so if he can stay healthy, this looks like a break out year.

16. Cam Johnson — Oklahoma (↓ from No. 2)

Seven walks in just over two innings. Still elite stuff, but he has to throw strikes and has been plagued with command issues in the past. Hopefully this is an annomolly and the OU staff will have him right for Baton Rouge this weekend. Cam just needs to trust his stuff and pitch with conviction. It’s always easier said than done from the sidelines, but that kid has everything to be a dominant starter in the SEC, at this point it’s just about his mental game.

17. Tegan Kuhns — Tennessee (↓ from No. 9)

Electric stuff and strong strikeout-to-walk ratio. Has given up some hits but still belongs here and will continue to develop as an elite arm in the SEC.

18. Dylan Vigue — Georgia (NEW)

Looked really, really good against Tennessee and pitched a big game for them on Saturday. 90-94 with good off speed and presence on the mound. Vigue transferred from Michigan and I think he can handle the SEC.

19. Hunter Elliott — Ole Miss

Strikeouts are there, but too many walks and hit batters right now. You need to trust your Friday guy can go 90-100 pitches and give 6/7 innings each weekend, and Elliot is not instilling a ton of confidence with that sentiment. He is very experienced and I trust he will find his way, and with Cade Townsend leaving after one inning this past weekend, Elliot needs to figure it out fast.

20. Josh Gunther — South Carolina (NEW)

3.65 ERA, 1.16 WHIP — 31K / 8BB
Held Florida hitless through 6.1 innings. Good VAA, 91–95 with run and fade, and mixes four pitches with good sequencing and tunneling.

21. Shane Sdao — Texas A&M (↓ from No. 16)

A perfect Friday night starter for a team with a great offense—throws strikes, limits walks, and gives them innings.

22. Luke Harrison — Texas (NEW)

Big bounce-back start in a spot Texas needed after Friday night and big start for him after struggling the past two weekends.

23. Duke Stone — Mississippi State (↑ from No. 24)

Does exactly what you want on Sunday—throws strikes and keeps you in the game. Has an elite frame and stuff, with low to mid 90’s FB and big breaker.

24. Cord Rager — Oklahoma (↑ from No. 28)

True freshman with good stuff who gives Oklahoma a strong No. 3 option, who throws strikes. 28:7 K:BB ratio as a weekend starter is very impressive. He gave up some runs this weekend (40+MPH winds) so I am not holding that against him as his stuff was all there, and I am excited to see how he fares in Baton Rouge this weekend.

25. Josh McDevitt — Missouri (Unranked)

Good arm (91-94) with a really good changeup and CB (although command isn’t great yet). If he commands his stuff better, he could climb quickly. He was unranked, but I watched his start this weekend against Auburn and the stuff plays. He will need to command the ball better in the SEC, but some of his stats sit near the top of the SEC leaderboard and it’s time to pay attention.

26–46: Depth, Movement, and Watch List

• 26. Hunter Dietz — Arkansas
  Tough outing drops him here, and drops so low because of inconsistency. Stuff is never the question.

• 27. Landon Mack — Tennessee
  Would be higher if command issues didn’t keep showing up, one of my favorite arms for next year’s draft class. Needs to continue to develop true command to harness the stuff.

• 28. Javyn Pimentel — Missouri
  Solid Friday night starter, just needs to miss more bats.

• 29. Nate Harris — Kentucky
  Nice bounce-back outing against Alabama this weekend going 6 strong, only giving up one hit.

• 30. Evan Blanco — Tennessee
  Solid Sunday starter with experience and a strong strikeout-to-walk profile.

• 31. Cooper Moore — LSU
  Still a solid Saturday arm, but can’t afford command lapses because of contact profile.

• 32. Wyatt Nadeau — Vanderbilt
  True freshman with big frame and stuff (94-96)—seven innings, three runs 10 strikeouts against LSU this weekend in his second weekend start.

• 33. Tyler Fay — Alabama
  Still missing bats (34:6 K:BB in 28.2 IP), even when giving up some runs.

• 34. Connor Fennel — Vanderbilt

  Got hit around by LSU, but fills up the zone and generates swings and misses with a unique vertical approach angle FB. 38:6 K:BB ratio, despite having a 5.47 ERA.

• 35. Casan Evans — LSU
  Struggling with a transition to Friday night starter—five walks in three innings this weekend against a good offensive Vandy team. Time will tell to see if he can stay in the Friday role, but he needs to be more efficient if he is going to stick there.

• 36. Zane Adams — Alabama
  Giving up some hits, but experienced and should settle in, and could climb fast once he does.

• 37. Miles Upchurch — Alabama
  Talented freshman with real upside learning in SEC play, having one of his toughest outings so far.

• 38. Aidan Sims — Texas A&M
  Solid Sunday option continuing to develop for a strong offensive A&M team.

• 39. Amp Phillips — South Carolina
  Good No. 2 option with upside and has been doing a good job limiting runs. Held Florida in check this past Saturday and gave them a chance to win the game.

• 40. Brady Kellenbrink — Missouri
  Misses bats but needs to limit base runners and hard contact. If he is going to pitch Sunday in the SEC, he needs to keep Mizzou close.

• 41. Ben Cleaver — Kentucky
  Swing-and-miss stuff, but real questions about command and workload.

• 42. Cooper Walls — Florida
  Solid Sunday option, but needs to limit damage and give up less hits + walks.

• 43. Will Libbert — Ole Miss
  Looking to bounce back after a tough outing.

• 44. Nate Taylor — Vanderbilt
  Still trying to figure it out on Sundays.

• 45. Weston Moss — Texas A&M
  Bounce-back outing, but stuff and results (ERA near 6) are concerning, for me. Wouldn’t be surprised to see Sims in Saturday at some point.

• 46. Riley Goodman — South Carolina
  Didn’t get out of the first inning—has to figure things out to stay in a starting role.

Injury / Watch List

• Cade Townsend — Ole Miss
  Left with an injury—would be a top-15 arm if healthy.

• Kenny Ishikawa — Georgia
  Back and will climb as he settles in, tough outing on Sunday in only two innings of work.

• Austin Nye — Vanderbilt
  Bicep tendonitis—still figuring out the severity, but if they can get him back healthy it would do wonders for a Vandy team struggling on the mound.

• Sam Cozart (Texas), Taylor Tracey (Tennessee), Gavin Lyons
  Not full weekend guys yet, but trending in the right direction. Some of these guys start mid-week but then throw valuable innings on the weekend like Mozart did this weekend for Texas.

Closing Thoughts

This is where it starts to separate.

You’re seeing who can actually handle a Friday night in the SEC, who can pitch when their stuff isn’t perfect, and who can compete when the environment speeds up.

Next weekend is only going to amplify that.

And that’s where these rankings really start to take shape.

Friday night delivered exactly what the first weekend of SEC play is supposed to deliver.

Close games. Walk-offs. Late-inning swings. A few dominant pitching performances and a handful of games that completely flipped in the final innings. For a league that prides itself on Friday night starters and brutal weekend series, the opening night of conference play certainly lived up to the billing.

Here’s how things unfolded around the league.

Tennessee 7, Georgia 4

Good pitching still tends to beat good hitting, and Tennessee leaned on just enough of it to take down Georgia on Friday night.

Tegan Kuhns got hit around a little more than we’ve seen this season, but the stuff still looked electric overall. He allowed four runs in the fifth inning but otherwise gave Tennessee the type of start they needed in a tough SEC opener.

Offensively, Henry Ford continued to be a difference-maker for the Volunteers. Ford went 2-for-5 with three RBIs and launched a big home run to help Tennessee create separation.

Georgia starter Joey Volchko looked ok but ultimately gave up four earned runs over five and two-thirds innings against a Tennessee lineup that continues to find ways to produce in big moments.

Kentucky 7, Alabama 4

Kentucky handled business behind a solid outing from Jackson Jelkin.

Jelkin went five and a third innings, allowing four earned runs while striking out five to pick up the win. It wasn’t a dominant performance, but it was enough to keep Kentucky in control throughout most of the night.

Ethan Hindle led the Wildcats offensively, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a home run.

For Alabama, Tyler Fay battled through seven innings despite getting hit around. Fay allowed six earned runs but did strike out eight, and the length he provided should leave Alabama’s bullpen well rested heading into the rest of the weekend.

Florida 1, South Carolina 0 (10 innings)

This one turned into a true pitchers’ duel.

South Carolina held Florida hitless through eight innings, and the game remained scoreless into extra innings before Florida finally broke through in the bottom of the tenth.

Liam Peterson delivered another outstanding start for the Gators. Peterson went six innings, allowing just one hit while striking out ten and walking two.

Joshua Whritenour came out of the bullpen and was equally impressive, throwing two and a third scoreless innings with three strikeouts to earn the win.

It was a gritty, low-scoring SEC game that highlighted just how strong Florida’s pitching staff can be.

Auburn 2, Missouri 0

Jake Marciano continues to look like one of the premier Friday night arms in the conference.

Marciano shoved again for Auburn, throwing seven shutout innings while striking out seven and allowing only a few baserunners in a tight 2–0 win over Missouri.

In a night full of offense across the league, Auburn’s ability to win a true pitching battle stood out.

Vanderbilt 13, LSU 12

This one turned into complete chaos.

Vanderbilt walked off LSU on a home run in the bottom of the ninth inning in a game that saw 25 total runs and multiple momentum swings throughout the night.

The first several innings turned into an offensive shootout before both teams began trading punches late.

LSU starter Casan Evans struggled with command, walking five batters in three innings, while Vanderbilt’s Connor Fennell also had a difficult night against the Tigers lineup.

In the end, Vanderbilt delivered the final swing, walking it off in a game that will likely set the tone for the rest of what should be a wild series.

Arkansas 5, Mississippi State 4

Arkansas and Mississippi State delivered one of the best games of the night.

Mississippi State tied the game in the top of the ninth with a home run, only for Arkansas to answer immediately with a walk-off blast in the bottom half of the inning.

Ryder Pompey provided the heroics for the Razorbacks, launching the game-winning home run to right-center.

Both Friday night starters held their own against strong competition. Mississippi State’s McPherson went six innings, allowing five hits and three earned runs while striking out eight with no walks. Arkansas starter Gabe Gaeckle went five and two-thirds innings, giving up two earned runs with four strikeouts.

Cole Gibler ultimately picked up the win in relief for Arkansas after the dramatic finish.

Oklahoma 8, Texas A&M 7

This one turned into a bullpen-heavy game after both starters struggled early.

Oklahoma reliever Jason Boding was outstanding late in the game, navigating several tight situations and helping shut down Texas A&M’s offense down the stretch.

Texas A&M’s Chris Hacopian had a strong night offensively, going 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Neither starter lasted long. Oklahoma’s Cam Johnson walked seven batters in just three innings, while Texas A&M’s Shane Sdao allowed four earned runs in three and two-thirds.

Oklahoma ultimately pulled away behind a balanced offensive attack that produced 13 hits.

Ole Miss 9, Texas 8 (11 innings)

The wildest game of the night might have happened in Austin.

Texas appeared to have the game sealed after Anthony Pack Jr. launched a three-run homer in the eighth inning to give the Longhorns a 7–3 lead.

But Ole Miss had other plans.

In the top of the ninth, Tristan Bisetta crushed a grand slam to flip the game and put the Rebels ahead 8–7. Texas answered in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game at 8–8, sending it to extras.

Ole Miss finally broke through in the 11th inning, scoring the go-ahead run and handing Texas its first loss of the season.

It was exactly the type of chaotic, momentum-swinging game that defines SEC baseball.

Final Thoughts

If Friday night was any indication, SEC play is going to be exactly what we expected.

Close games, elite pitching, late-inning swings, and environments where no lead is safe. Several Friday night starters held their own, but the biggest story of the night may have been just how many games were decided in the final innings.

And with the way this first night unfolded, Saturday and Sunday should be just as entertaining.

For the first few weeks of the season, there is always a little bit of noise in college baseball.

Teams stack wins. Schedules vary. Numbers can look inflated. Rotations are still settling in. Coaches are still learning what they trust and who they trust.

But this weekend is where the noise starts to disappear.

SEC play opens, and that changes everything. The playing field is more even now. The stakes are the same for everybody. For the next 30 conference games, every weekend matters, every series matters, and every Friday night becomes a tone-setter.

That is what makes this part of the season so much fun.

The preseason fluff is over. Now we get to watch real conference baseball, and the SEC is loaded with enough starting pitching and enough offensive firepower to make every single weekend feel heavy.

Here is how I see the opening weekend unfolding.

Friday Night Arms to Watch

Opening weekend in the SEC always starts with the same question: who is built for Friday night?

Not just who has the best stuff, but who can actually carry the weight of the role.

Ryan McPherson (Mississippi State) vs. Gabe Gaeckle (Arkansas): Another Friday night matchup I’ll be locked in on is Ryan McPherson against Gabe Gaeckle in Fayetteville. For Arkansas, this is a moment where I’m looking for a little more Friday night fire from Gaeckle — the kind of presence where you take the ball and control the tone of the series from the first pitch. On the Mississippi State side, the question is how McPherson’s electric stuff plays in a hostile SEC road environment; does it still play at the same level, or do we see a little command slip when the heart rate gets up in Fayetteville? That matchup should give us a real early indication of how Mississippi State’s rotation holds up when the stakes and the environment get turned up.

Jaxon Jelkin (Kentucky) vs. Tyler Fay (Alabama) is one of the Friday night matchups I’m most interested in.

Jelkin is coming off an outing against The Citadel where he gave up five runs in the first two innings, but what mattered to me was what happened after that. He settled in. He kept competing. He stayed in the game as long as he could, saved his bullpen, and kept his team in striking distance. Kentucky was down 5-0 early and still came back to win 10-5. That is real Friday night stuff. Sometimes being a Friday night guy is not about having your best command or your cleanest line. Sometimes it is about absorbing damage, minimizing the rest of it, and giving your team a chance to win the game and preserve the weekend. Fay is also one of the arms to watch after coming off an 11-strikeout outing and throwing the ball really well since his season opener which will be tough on Kentucky.

Liam Peterson (Florida) is another one I’ll be watching closely. This feels like a weekend where he could put together a dominant Friday night performance and establish momentum for Florida heading into conference play. It feels like he is trending in the right direction (albeit some minor command blips) so I really want to see him get ahead of hitters and put them away in four pitchers or less and go 7 innings, strong. Last year Florida started 1-11 in the SEC, so winning the first one and setting the tone for the weekend is a huge step for his other starters to follow in.

#3 Mississippi State (15-2) @ #5 Arkansas (12-5)

This is probably the toughest series of the weekend and the highest-stakes matchup on the board.

It is a top-five matchup, and it is in Arkansas, which is huge (for Arkansas). Mississippi State is getting truly tested on the road under Brian O’Connor for the first time in a spot like this, and Fayetteville is never an easy place to open conference play.

But I think Mississippi State’s starting rotation gives them the slight edge.

For me, it starts with Ryan McPherson, Tomas Valincius, and Duke Stone. That group has looked more electric (pure stuff-wise), and right now I trust the shape of Mississippi State’s rotation a little bit more than Arkansas’.

On the Arkansas side, I still have questions. Not huge red flags, but enough question marks to lean the other way. Gabe Gaeckle has all the talent, but I’ve said it before: I still want to see more of that true Friday night fire from him. If he comes out and sets the tone like a true Friday night starter, that changes the feel of this series. Hunter Dietz is another arm I have circled, and is coming off two incredible starts but again, I just trust Mississippi State’s consistency a little more right now.

Arkansas at home absolutely makes this close, plus I think Fisher on Sunday may give them a slight advantage in that game and that environment can tilt a game or a weekend.

But based on what we’ve seen so far, I think Mississippi State takes the series.

Prediction: Mississippi State takes 2 of 3

#23 Texas A&M (15-1) @ #9 Oklahoma (15-2)

This is the first real SEC test in 2026 for Cam Johnson and LJ Mercurius, and that is where my eyes go first in this series.

I like Oklahoma’s rotation, and I like what they’ve shown offensively enough to lean toward them pretty clearly here.

I think Cam Johnson rises to the occasion this weekend. I also think the matchup works for him, especially if he can command the inner half to their right-handed hitters. Then with LJ Mercurius, the fastball-changeup combination gives him a chance to neutralize some of the biggest threats in Texas A&M’s lineup, especially the left-handed hitters.

That is really what shapes the series for me.

I just think Oklahoma’s rotation is elite, and I think their offense has shown enough, to beat Texas A&M at home. In fact, I think it could get lopsided if Oklahoma’s starters do what they’ve done so far and Texas A&M does not create enough traffic offensively.

This is one where I would not be surprised if Oklahoma wins it handily.

Prediction: Oklahoma wins the series, and it could be a sweep

#19 Tennessee (13-4) @ #8 Georgia (15-3)

This one is simple for me in concept, even if it is a tough series on paper.

I think elite starting pitching beats elite hitting.

Georgia has put up huge offensive numbers. They lead the nation in home runs by a wide margin and have clearly shown the ability to score in bunches. But they also have played all of their games at home, and I do think that matters when evaluating how battle-tested they really are coming into opening SEC weekend.

Tennessee, to me, has been tested more.

They have played a tougher schedule, and I think their starting rotation on Friday and Saturday with Tegan Kuhns and Landon Mack is elite enough to travel and quiet an offense like Georgia’s, even one that has been putting up huge power numbers.

Georgia does have Joey Volchko, and I think he is a pretty elite starter. But for me, he is going to have to sharpen the command a little more against Tennessee.

The other interesting part of this matchup is that Tennessee’s offense has not been great statistically. They are near the bottom of the league in batting average. But they are also young, and young lineups can gain momentum fast. If Georgia gives them some walks, gives them some free baserunners, or lets them feel life early in games, Tennessee can absolutely ride that momentum through a weekend.

So even though I understand why some people are favoring Georgia, I’m leaning Tennessee because I trust the top of that rotation.

Prediction: Tennessee takes 2 of 3

Ole Miss (15-3) @ #2 Texas (16-0)

This should be one of the most interesting series of the weekend.

I think Texas takes the series, and I think the reason starts with Ruger Riojas and Dylan Volantis.

I trust those arms across the weekend, and I think that gives Texas enough stability to win two games against a good Ole Miss team.

That said, I do think Ole Miss gets one.

For me, that game is probably Saturday because Cade Townsend has been electric and looks like one of the best pitchers in the country right now. On the other side of that, Texas has had a little bit of a question mark with Luke Harrison on Saturdays over the last couple of weeks.

That is where I think Ole Miss can grab a game.

But over the full three-game series, I trust Texas’ top-end starting pitching and the five+ big leaguers I think they have in their lineup to give them the edge.

Prediction: Texas takes 2 of 3

#13 LSU (13-5) @ Vanderbilt (11-7)

This series has gotten more interesting recently.

A couple of weeks ago, I probably would have felt cleaner about LSU here. I still think LSU wins the series, but I’m more nervous about it now.

The biggest issue is that LSU has not played clean enough baseball.

They have made 21 errors in 18 games, and they enter conference play with the worst ERA in the SEC at 4.29 in non-conference play. That is not a formula that gets easier once league play starts. The competition only improves from here.

On the other side, Vanderbilt has some real reasons to feel confident offensively. They are second in the SEC in home runs, and with the fences moved in, they absolutely have the ability to score if LSU gives them extra outs or falls behind in counts.

Friday night is big here.

Connor Fennell has enough stuff and enough command to keep LSU’s lineup in check if LSU continues to search offensively. LSU has not been swinging it particularly well, so they need to take advantage of the spots in the weekend where Vanderbilt is vulnerable.

That means Saturday and Sunday matter a lot. Austin Nye is not in the Saturday rotation, so Vanderbilt is turning to a freshman there, and Nate Taylor has been shaky on Sunday.

Those are the games LSU has to capitalize on.

If LSU pitches well and plays defense, they should still win the series. If they do not, Vanderbilt has enough offense to make this a problem quickly.

Prediction: LSU takes 2 of 3

Alabama (15-3) @ #21 Kentucky (15-2)

This is one of the harder series for me to predict this weekend because I actually like both teams more than most people do.

I picked both of them to finish higher than a lot of others probably did, so having to choose between them this early, before seeing either one play inside SEC competition, is not easy.

I actually think Kentucky may potentially have the better team overall.

But this weekend, I’m leaning Alabama, and the reason is the rotation.

Tyler Fay is coming off an 11-strikeout outing and is throwing the ball really well since his season opener. He looks like a guy who can establish the tone of a series, but he is going head to head with Jaxon Jelkin.

On Saturday, Zane Adams gives Alabama another credible SEC starter. He is an established arm in this league, a lefty in the low-to-mid 90s, and that matters against a Kentucky team that has at times shown that it can struggle to score.

Even though Alabama is more toward the bottom offensively, I still think Alabama’s offense is a little more potent from a pure run-scoring standpoint than Kentucky’s.

Then on the Kentucky side, there are just enough questions for me to lean Alabama.

Ben Cleaver has not pitched more than five innings in a game this year, and Nate Harris has been up and down. At times he has been very good, but his last outing was very bad.

Then when you get to Sunday, I really like Myles Upchurch as a deciding factor for Alabama, who is a freshman I really like.

That is what pushes me there. But… keep in mind, the last time these two squads met (in 2024 when Kentucky tied for the SEC Championship), Kentucky swept Alabama.

Prediction: Alabama takes 2 of 3

South Carolina (12-6) @ #23 Florida (15-3)

There is not too much to break down here for me.

I think Florida absolutely dominates this series, and I think they sweep the weekend.

The big thing I’m watching is Liam Peterson on Friday. This feels like a weekend where he can come out and have a dominant performance.

I am also watching Aiden King and Cooper Walls because this looks like a good opportunity for both of them to have get-right weekends and build confidence heading into the heart of SEC play.

That is really what this series feels like to me for Florida: a chance not just to win, but to get rolling.

Prediction: Florida sweeps the series

#6 Auburn (14-2) @ Missouri (15-2)

Missouri has done some interesting things early.

Their pitchers have shown some real swing-and-miss ability, and offensively they have scored the most runs in the SEC, so I understand why some people are getting excited about Missouri baseball.

But I think this weekend Auburn puts them in their place a little bit.

For me, the difference is Auburn’s starting rotation. I think that group neutralizes Missouri’s offense over the course of the series, and I trust Auburn’s starters more than I trust Missouri sustaining what it has done offensively once it gets into SEC play against a rotation like this.

Missouri may still grab a game, and I don’t think this is a walkover. But I do think Auburn’s starting pitching gives them the edge and allows them to control the weekend.

Prediction: Auburn takes 2 of 3

Opening Weekend SEC Picks

Mississippi State over Arkansas, 2-1
Oklahoma over Texas A&M, 2-1, potentially a sweep
Tennessee over Georgia, 2-1
Texas over Ole Miss, 2-1
LSU over Vanderbilt, 2-1
Alabama over Kentucky, 2-1
Florida over South Carolina, 3-0
Auburn over Missouri, 2-1

With conference play finally underway, the margin for error across the SEC disappears quickly. Every weekend now becomes a test of starting pitching, execution, and which teams can handle the pressure of meaningful games. If opening weekend is any indication, the next two months of SEC baseball should be as competitive and entertaining as the sport has to offer.

If you want to understand what the Royal Oak Leprechauns can become, you have to start with one simple idea: Summer baseball is not just summer baseball.

The Northwoods League is one of the most competitive summer leagues in the country. Every year it becomes a proving ground for college players trying to sharpen their tools, win bigger roles at their programs, and ultimately position themselves for professional baseball.

For fans in Metro Detroit, the Leprechauns provide something even more unique: a chance to watch players before the rest of the country catches on.

Future draft picks.
Players from elite programs.
Local kids who grew up here and are now performing on national stages.

This week’s Leprechaun Report highlights five players who tell that story perfectly — three former Leprechauns already making noise at major college programs and two newcomers whose futures could be just getting started.

Jarren Purify: The hometown storyline that almost was

Few stories capture the excitement around Leprechauns baseball quite like Jarren Purify.

Purify was a heralded Detroit-area recruit who committed to Clemson, one of the premier programs in college baseball. After his freshman season, he came home to play summer ball in Royal Oak, and there was real buzz surrounding it.

Fans were excited.
Local baseball people were excited.
The idea of watching a future Clemson star play in Royal Oak felt like exactly what the Northwoods League is supposed to be about.

And for one night, it was.

Purify went 3-for-4 in his Leprechauns debut, immediately showing the type of dynamic athleticism that made him such a highly regarded recruit.

Then, in the next game, everything changed.

He was hit by a pitch in his first at-bat and broke his hand.

Just like that, the summer was over.

Clemson brought him back to campus to rehab, and the story that fans in Royal Oak were excited about never really got a chance to unfold.

But Purify kept climbing.

Now, fast forward to his draft year.

Purify has become one of the catalysts in Clemson’s lineup, hitting .390 early this season with 23 hits, 22 runs, and eight stolen bases, showing exactly the type of dynamic skill set scouts look for in middle-of-the-diamond players.

He recently appeared on Perfect Game’s Top 100 collegiate prospects list, was rated as the number 50 junior in the nation by Perfect Game, and was rated the number 22 prospect in the ACC for the 2026 draft, and the buzz around him continues to grow as the draft quickly approaches.

The tools have always been there — elite athleticism, speed, and the ability to impact games in multiple ways.

Now the performance is catching up.

And for fans who remember that name and a brief summer glimpse in Royal Oak, it’s a reminder of exactly why summer leagues matter.

Brayden Dowd: A Michigan kid finding the right fit

Development in baseball is rarely linear.

Sometimes players just need the right opportunity, the right environment, and the right moment for everything to click.

That seems to be the story for Brayden Dowd.

The Michigan native and Brother Rice product is now playing for Florida State, one of the most respected programs in the country, and he’s off to a strong start.

Through the early part of the season, Dowd is hitting .308 with three home runs and a 1.112 OPS, providing real offensive production in a talented Seminoles lineup.

Dowd has always been known for his athleticism and strength at the plate, but what’s encouraging now is seeing those tools translate against high-level competition.

For Leprechauns fans, Dowd represents another important part of the pipeline: local players who leave Michigan for elite programs but still maintain that connection to home.

Watching their journey unfold — from summer ball to big-time college baseball — is exactly the kind of story that can bring fans into the fold.

Matt Ineich: From Michigan to the national stage

If you’re looking for the purest example of player development in this group, look no further than Matt Ineich.

The South Lyon native began his college career at Ohio University, where he quietly became one of the most productive hitters in the MAC.

Now at West Virginia, he’s taken that success to a bigger stage.

Ineich is hitting .382 with a 1.042 OPS, driving in runs and helping fuel one of the more exciting offenses in the Big 12.

His performance has already earned him a spot on the Brooks Wallace Award Watch List, which recognizes the nation’s top shortstops.

That kind of recognition doesn’t happen by accident.

It happens when players continue to produce at every level they reach.

For fans in Metro Detroit, Ineich represents another reason to pay attention to the Leprechauns roster: the next standout player might already be passing through Royal Oak.

Newcomer Watch: Mason Barth

While former Leprechauns are making headlines across college baseball, the next wave of talent is already arriving.

One player worth keeping an eye on is Mason Barth, a freshman infielder at Notre Dame.

Barth entered college as one of the top high school shortstops in Indiana and has started to see his role grow as the season progresses. He has started eight of the Irish’s 13 games so far and is batting .306 with a homer and 9 RBI.

He’s built like a classic Midwest infielder — sturdy, strong, and instinctive — and those types of players often make big jumps as they adjust to college pitching.

For Leprechauns fans, Barth represents the kind of player summer leagues were built for.

A young player with tools, opportunity, and room to grow.

The kind of player you might see early in his development before the rest of the country starts paying attention.

Newcomer Watch: Jackson Miller

And then there’s Jackson Miller.

When I first saw Miller throwing in our indoor facility, my immediate reaction was simple: That delivery looks familiar.

Miller is a 6-foot-4 left-handed freshman at Bowling Green, and his long frame and arm slot immediately reminded me of someone I know pretty well — Chris Sale.

Now, let’s be clear.

Comparisons like that don’t mean a player is Chris Sale.

But sometimes the visual cues are hard to ignore.

I actually texted Chris after seeing Miller throw, just to get his take on the comparison and he even commented how nice his timing looked and the whippiness in his arm.

The upside is obvious.

Miller made his first collegiate start this past weekend. Miller was extremely impressive, in my opinion, showing some really electric stuff from the left side.

Miller started the game in an unfortunate way by allowing a lead-off homer and a single on a ball that was popped up in the infield and lost in the sun. But let’s throw some context in the mix for the leadoff home run: the umpire absolutely screwed him in that at-bat and Jackson fell behind 2-1 on three pitches that were identical— all 95 mph fastballs (seemingly) down the middle.

After the home run and unfortunate sun ball, Miller settled in and punched out the next three batters he faced. For a freshman lefty, that kind of response says a lot about the competitiveness and raw ability upside.

Miller flashed a mid-90s fastball in the first inning and settled in at 92-93, and complimented it with a slider and change-up.

With more innings and experience, Miller could become one of the more intriguing young arms to watch.

And for fans in Royal Oak, that’s the exciting part.

You might get to see that development happen up close.

Why this should matter to Metro Detroit

If the Royal Oak Leprechauns are going to build a real fan base, the message can’t just be:

“Come watch summer baseball.”

It has to be bigger than that.

It has to be:

Come watch future professionals.
Come follow local players competing on national stages.
Come see the next step in a player’s journey before the rest of the baseball world does.

Players like Purify, Dowd, and Ineich show how that path works.

Barth and Miller represent the next chapter.

And if you’re paying attention this summer, you might just see the next big name before anyone else does.

Final Rankings Before SEC Play

With non-conference play wrapping up, this weekend served as the final tune-up before the real gauntlet begins.

For some pitchers, it was another opportunity to dominate lesser competition and build confidence heading into conference play. For others, it revealed small cracks that SEC lineups will certainly try to exploit.

What’s clear after these first few weeks is that several programs have elite weekend rotations, and the depth of pitching across the league might be the strongest it’s been in years.

Here are the SEC Starting Pitcher Power Rankings heading into SEC play.

1. Ruger Riojas — Texas

4-0, 1.23 ERA 22.0IP 42K 3BB

Riojas continues to look absolutely electric. He threw six innings with 12 strikeouts, no walks, and one earned run on a solo home run where a hitter simply got out in front of a changeup and squared it up. Outside of that swing, the contact was weak all night.

Riojas was 95–98 mph, mixing a gyro slider at 88–91, a big curveball at 79–83, and a mid-80s changeup. He even dropped down once for a 92 mph power sinker/split look, showing an advanced ability to manipulate arm slots.

More importantly, he carries himself like a true Friday night starter — confident, aggressive, and attacking hitters with the fastball. The way he pitches off that heater reminds me of a more powerful Freddy Peralta. Right now he looks like someone who could legitimately pitch in the big leagues.

2. Cam Johnson — Oklahoma

3-0, 2.11 ERA 21.1IP 32K 5BB

Johnson jumps to No. 2 after another dominant outing. He went 5.1 innings, allowing two hits and one unearned run with seven strikeouts, bringing his season totals to 32 strikeouts and five walks in 21.1 innings.

I already wrote extensively about Johnson in my Friday Night Sh*t breakdown with Riojas, but the short version is simple: he looks like a true ace. His size, delivery, and ability to repeat mechanics give him the profile of someone who could be a frontline starter.

3. LJ Mercurius — Oklahoma

4-0, 0.39 ERA 23.1IP 34K 6BB

Mercurius continues to post absurd numbers. He threw six shutout innings, allowing four hits with six strikeouts and no walks.

That brings him to 34 strikeouts and just six walks in 23 innings, with a microscopic ERA heading into SEC play. Oklahoma having both Mercurius and Johnson at the top of a rotation makes them extremely dangerous.

4. Jake Marciano — Auburn

2-0, 1.23 ERA 22IP 35K 1BB

Marciano remains one of the most reliable Friday night arms in the country. He threw six scoreless innings, walking his first batter of the season but still maintaining elite command overall.

He did hit four batters, but much of that comes from his approach of aggressively working inside to right-handed hitters (see chart below) to open up the outer half of the plate. It’s intentional, and it works.

Marciano now sits at 35 strikeouts and just one walk on the season.

5. Ryan McPherson — Mississippi State

3-0, 1.96 ERA 23IP 28K 5BB

McPherson continues to trend upward. He walked the first hitter he faced on four pitches, which was unusual, but quickly settled in and dominated.

When he gets into rhythm, the combination of his fastball, curveball, and cutter is extremely difficult to handle. His mound presence and pitch mix make him every bit of a Friday night starter.

6. Hunter Dietz — Arkansas

2-1, 2.84 ERA 19IP 34K 5BB

Dietz makes one of the biggest jumps in the rankings. He hasn’t allowed an earned run in his last two starts and has struck out 20 batters with only one walk during that stretch.

He reminds me of a young Drew Pomeranz, sitting 92–96 mph and touching 97, mixing a curveball around 80–82 with a harder slider at 87–89. His confidence continues to grow as the game progresses.

He now has 34 strikeouts and five walks in 19 innings.

7. William Schmidt — LSU

3-1, 2.45 ERA 22.0IP 33K 4BB

Schmidt continues to look like a future big leaguer. He threw 5.2 innings with eight strikeouts and no walks, and that’s now back-to-back starts without issuing a free pass.

His jump from freshman to sophomore year has been impressive, and his stuff looks major league ready.

8. Cade Townsend — Ole Miss

2-0, 0.48 ERA 18.2 IP 32K 4BB

Townsend is technically Ole Miss’s Saturday starter right now, but I would not be surprised if he opens SEC play on Friday night.

He struck out seven in five innings, bringing his total to 32 strikeouts in 18 innings. The velocity wasn’t quite the 95–97 mph we’ve seen previously, but he still sat 93–95 and touched 96 while pitching efficiently.

He’s trending in a very strong direction.

9. Tegan Kuhns — Tennessee

1-1, 3.09 ERA 23.1IP 29K 4BB

Kuhns gave up some early runs against Wright State but settled in nicely and finished strong. He ended the night with five innings, seven strikeouts, and no walks.

His stuff is why he’s here. The body, frame, and athleticism all scream first-round talent, and he’s compiled 29 strikeouts to four walks heading into SEC play.

10. Jaxson Jelkin — Kentucky

3-0, 2.53 ERA 21.1IP 26K 4BB

Jelkin drops slightly but remains a top-tier arm. He dealt with some bad luck and weak contact against The Citadel but battled through it and gave Kentucky a chance to win.

He reminds me a lot of Jacob deGrom with his athletic delivery and lanky frame. He also unveiled a 90–92 mph cutter this weekend (see below) to complement his 94–96 fastball, slider, and curveball — a scary combination moving forward.

11. Dylan Volantis — Texas

2-0 1.54 ERA 23.1IP 29K 7BB

Volantis slides down slightly in the rankings, but this has more to do with workload management than performance. This is now the second straight outing where he hasn’t quite reached five innings, which appears to be a product of Texas managing his transition from the bullpen to a starting role under Jim Schlossnagle and Max Wiener.

He went 4.2 innings, allowing six hits and three earned runs with two walks, throwing 78 pitches in a somewhat laborious outing. While the efficiency wasn’t ideal, the stuff still looked plenty good enough.

Volantis remains a very intriguing arm heading into SEC play. He has the ability to miss bats and compete with anyone in the league, and the expectation is that his workload will continue to build as the season progresses.

12. Casan Evans — LSU

1-0, 4.66 ERA 19.1IP 30K 7BB

Evans continues to show why LSU trusts him in a big role in their weekend rotation. He opened his start by retiring the first 15 hitters in order, looking completely dominant through the first several innings.

He finished with five strong innings, and although he ran into some bad luck late and didn’t quite finish the outing cleanly, the overall performance was extremely encouraging.

His fastball sat 95–97 mph, and when he’s commanding it, he’s about as overpowering as anyone in the conference. Evans and William Schmidt form a very formidable 1-2 punch for LSU heading into SEC play, and when Cooper Moore rounds out that rotation, it becomes one of the deeper staffs in the league.

13. Liam Peterson — Florida

1-0, 3.72 ERA 19.1IP 34K 12BB

Peterson might have the most electric, pure stuff in the SEC when everything is working.

In the first inning of his start this weekend, he was sitting 97–99 mph, and the fastball had that true backspin that makes it look like it’s riding through the top of the zone. He pairs that heater with a big overhand curveball and mixes in a slider as well.

The issue right now is command. Peterson occasionally yanks the fastball and loses the feel for it, and because so much of his pitch mix works off that heater, everything else can unravel when that happens.

Still, when he’s locked in, there may not be another arm in the conference whose stuff matches up with him. If he finds consistent command, he has true ace potential.

This combo shouldn’t be allowed in college baseball.

14. Colin Fisher — Arkansas

2-1, 1.17 ERA 23IP 30K 3BB

Fisher drops slightly this week, but the overall body of work still speaks for itself.

He had a solid outing but allowed three earned runs on six hits in four innings, striking out four without issuing a walk. That’s actually notable because Fisher’s strike-throwing ability is still elite.

He now has 30 strikeouts to only three walks in 22 innings, which is an absurd strikeout-to-walk ratio. Arkansas continues to have tremendous depth in their rotation, and Fisher still profiles as one of the most reliable starters in the conference.

15. Jackson Sanders — Auburn

3-0, 3.22 ERA 22.1IP 33K 4BB

Sanders had one of the most impressive outings of the weekend.

He struck out 10 hitters in seven innings, and when everything clicks for him mechanically, the delivery and angle he creates make him extremely difficult to hit.

His crossfire motion and release point are reminiscent of Madison Bumgarner, and when he’s commanding his pitches, hitters struggle to pick the ball up. He now has 33 strikeouts in 22 innings, and Auburn’s weekend rotation continues to look very strong heading into conference play.

16. Shane Sdao — Texas A&M

3-0, 2.49 ERA 25.1IP 25K 2BB

Sdao continues to do exactly what you want from a Friday night starter: give your team a quality outing and keep them in the game.

He threw seven innings, allowing four hits and three earned runs with one walk and eight strikeouts. His season totals now sit at 25 strikeouts and only two walks in 25 innings, which speaks to his excellent command.

He may not always overwhelm hitters with strikeouts, but he mixes his pitches extremely well and consistently works deep into games.

17. Gabe Gaeckle — Arkansas

2-1, 2.61 ERA 20.2IP 27K 6BB

Gaeckle delivered a bounce-back performance this weekend.

He threw six shutout innings, allowing five hits with one walk and six strikeouts. His stuff has always had first-round potential, and Arkansas continues to trust him in big spots.

The key now will be seeing how that stuff translates once SEC lineups start forcing him to execute consistently. If he handles Friday nights well in conference play, his draft stock could rise significantly.

18. Joey Volchko — Georgia

4-0, 3.00 ERA 21IP 24K 8BB

Volchko turned in another solid outing without anything particularly flashy.

He threw six innings, allowing four hits and two earned runs with three walks and six strikeouts. It’s the type of performance that keeps him in the top twenty, but he hasn’t quite shown the dominant upside that some of the other arms around him have displayed in non-conference play.

As SEC play begins, the expectation is that he’ll need to elevate his game slightly to match up with the conference’s top aces.

19. Tyler Fay — Alabama

3-1, 4.57 ERA 21.2IP 26K 5BB

Fay had one of the best outings of the weekend.

He struck out 11 hitters in seven innings, allowing only four hits and one walk while giving up two earned runs on a homer. His ability to generate swings and misses stood out, and he looked extremely sharp throughout the outing.

If he continues pitching like that, Fay could climb quickly once SEC play begins.

20. Zane Adams — Alabama

3-0, 3.48 ERA 20.2IP 23K 3BB

Adams had a solid outing but wasn’t quite as efficient as you’d like to see.

He went five innings, allowing five hits and two earned runs with two walks and four strikeouts, throwing 90 pitches in those five innings. That pitch count is a little high for that length of outing.

Still, the overall numbers remain strong — 23 strikeouts to just three walks so far this season — and Adams continues to be a reliable piece in Alabama’s rotation.

21. Hunter Elliott — Ole Miss

2-0, 3.66 ERA 19.2IP 30K 15BB

Elliott’s situation is worth monitoring closely.

The stuff is still there, and he has 30 strikeouts in 19 innings, but the command issues are becoming noticeable. He has 15 walks and six hit batters over that span, which is far higher than what we saw from him previously.

Last season he walked 40 hitters in 85 innings, so the expectation is that he’ll eventually find that command again. But right now, those free passes are something to watch.

22. Connor Fennell — Vanderbilt

2-0, 3.80 ERA 21.2IP 30K 3BB

Fennell had a very strong outing this weekend, striking out 11 hitters and continuing to show strong command.

He now has 30 strikeouts and just three walks in 21 innings, with a 3.80 ERA. That strikeout-to-walk ratio is excellent, and if Vanderbilt’s bullpen stabilizes behind him, Fennell could become a very dependable Friday night option.

23. Tomas Valincinus — Mississippi State

3-0, 1.74 ERA 20.2IP 26K 6BB

Valincinus had a decent outing for Mississippi State, pitching four innings and allowing four hits and two earned runs with two walks and six strikeouts.

While he didn’t work deep into the game, the strikeout ability continues to show up. He now has 26 strikeouts in 20.2 innings, and he remains an important part of the Bulldogs’ rotation depth.

24. Duke Stone — Mississippi State

3-0, 3.06 17.2IP 24K 2BB

Stone had an extremely efficient outing this weekend.

He threw four innings without allowing a hit, run, or walk, striking out six on just 57 pitches. His numbers now sit at 22 strikeouts to only two walks in 17 innings, which is extremely impressive.

Mississippi State’s rotation depth continues to look better each week.

25. Aiden Sims — Texas A&M

3-0, 1.59 ERA 22.2IP 25K 5BB

Sims rounds out the top 25 after another strong outing.

He threw five shutout innings, allowing four hits with no walks and four strikeouts on just 57 pitches. He now has 25 strikeouts and five walks in 21 innings, showing a very strong improvement from his freshman season.

His development from year one to year two has been noticeable, and he looks like a much more polished starter heading into SEC play.

Emerging Pieces (26–44)

Short notes for the rest of the rankings:

26. Cooper Moore — LSU – The steady glue piece of LSU’s rotation; continues to provide reliable innings and shows a different look in between Evans and Schmidt. Moore is 3-1 with a 2.25 ERA and 31:5 K:BB ratio.

27. Landon Mack — Tennessee – Swing-and-miss stuff remains strong despite command issues this weekend and still has a 2.38 ERA with 30Ks in 22.2 IP.

28. Cord Rager — Oklahoma – Solid third piece in Oklahoma’s rotation despite a rough outing this weekend. 22:6 K:BB ratio in the first 18 innings of his college career is very promising.

29. Caden Aoki — Georgia – Has flashed swing-and-miss ability, despite average fastball velocity, but was hit around in his latest start before conference play. 25:4 K:BB ratio.

30. Miles Upchurch — Alabama – Talented freshman with nasty stuff and future Friday-night potential. Had 11Ks this weekend heading into SEC play and rocks a 3-1 record with a 1.39 ERA and 31Ks in 19IP.

31. Aiden King — Florida – Talented arm who has shown flashes but is still developing consistency and looking to go deeper into games. 17:2 K;BB ratio in 17 innings so far and has not allowed an earned run.

32. Alec Petrovic — Auburn – Strong secondary/third starter with a good starter profile. 3-0, 2.37 ERA 23:2 K;BB ratio is a tough Sunday guy to beat.

33. Weston Moss — Texas A&M – Reliable innings-eater who continues to deliver quality outings as A&M’s Saturday arm. Only blemish is a tough outing against the UCLA juggernaut.

34. Josh Gunther — South Carolina – Has flashed upside but still working toward consistency after dominating Clemson at home two weeks ago.

35. Luke Harrison — Texas – Developing arm with strong rotation depth value in between Riojas and Volantis. Will need to be more consistent in SEC play though.

36. Evan Blanco — Tennessee – Provides valuable depth and leadership for Tennessee’s strong pitching staff and a reliable Sunday arm.

37. Javyn Pimentel — Missouri – Has shown promise but struggled in his latest outing, not getting out of the second inning and giving up six earned runs against UIC.

38. Ben Cleaver — Kentucky – Very good arm and has shown his typical swing and miss stuff, but only throwing limited innings in non-conference. Would be higher if he had more innings. I am anxious to see if that’s a strategy or something bigger to pay attention to. He is 1-0, 0.68 ERA 20Ks 8BB’s in 14 innings so far.

39. Nate Harris — Kentucky – Continues to develop as another quality arm for the Wildcats, but tough outing this weekend after an incredible one last weekend.

40. Brady Kellenbrink — Missouri – Left-handed, Sunday arm that has show swing and miss stuff albeit not overpowering. Has 33:4 K:BB ratio, and had 11 Ks this weekend.

41. Wil Libbert — Ole Miss – Developing piece of the Rebels’ rotation depth.

42. Nate Taylor — Vanderbilt – Still searching for consistency but flashes intriguing stuff as Vandy’s Sunday arm.

43. Amp Phillips — South Carolina – Emerging arm with potential to climb these rankings.

44. Cooper Walls — Florida – Depth starter with upside as Florida continues to build pitching depth. Going to be a key piece if Peterson and King struggle to go deep into games.

45. Sam Cozart — Texas - This kid would be way higher if he was stating on the weekend, which may happen sooner than later if Luke Harrison doesn’t right the ship. He is a 6’6” 260-pound donkey (you may have heard of his size 18 shoe size from social media) who throws 94-96 with a power curveball. He has 18 Ks in 13 innings in two starts so far.

46. Taylor Tracey — Tennessee - Freshman lefty from Texas who made his first career start this week against Oakland and threw three perfect innings with 7 Ks. His delivery, mound presence, and command was very advanced for a true freshman and I was impressed. Curious to see if that develops for Tennessee and if he cracks the weekend rotation at all this year.

47. Dylan Vigue — Georgia - I cannot tell if Vigue will be in the rotation for the Dawgs, only time will tell as SEC plays out, but he is off to a 3-1 start with a 1.93ERA and 24:7 K:BB ration through 18.2 innings.

Friday night across the SEC looked much more like what we expected heading into the weekend.

After a strange week of midweek losses around the conference — including LSU dropping two games — most teams got back on track in their final weekend before SEC play begins. Several Friday night starters delivered strong outings, a few offenses broke out in a big way, and weather began to play a role in shaping the rest of the weekend schedule.

Here’s how things unfolded around the league.

Arkansas 7, Stetson 1

Arkansas took care of business behind a strong bounce-back performance from Gabe Gaeckle.

Gaeckle went six innings, allowing five hits, no runs, one walk, and striking out six, settling in nicely after last weekend’s tough outing. The Razorbacks controlled the game from the start and looked like the team we’ve expected them to be heading into conference play.

A solid Friday night win for Arkansas.

LSU 15, Sacramento State 4 (7 innings)

LSU delivered one of the most impressive offensive performances of the night, run-ruling Sacramento State 15–4.

Jake Brown stole the show, launching three home runs, while Steven Milam added his first homer of the season as the Tigers’ offense finally broke out in a big way.

On the mound, Casan Evans looked sharp as the Friday night starter, retiring 15 consecutive hitters at one point and continuing to trend in the right direction. After a tough midweek stretch for LSU, this was exactly the type of win Jay Johnson’s team needed heading into the weekend and SEC play.

Georgia 12, Queens 2

Georgia handled Queens comfortably behind Joey Volchko, who went six innings allowing four hits, two earned runs, three walks, and six strikeouts.

The Bulldogs offense did the rest, putting up 12 runs and cruising to an easy victory.

Texas A&M Sweeps Doubleheader vs Oakland

Game 1: Texas A&M 6, Oakland 3
Game 2: Texas A&M 10, Oakland 2

Texas A&M picked up two wins on Friday, sweeping a doubleheader against Oakland.

In the opener, Shane Sdao delivered another strong performance, throwing seven innings with four hits allowed, three earned runs, one walk, and eight strikeouts, but the Aggies came from behind after starting out down 3-0.

In the second game, Weston Moss continued the Aggies’ strong pitching with six innings, three hits, one earned run, no walks, and four strikeouts.

A&M continues to look very steady on the mound heading toward SEC play.

Kentucky 10, The Citadel 5

Kentucky had to work for this one.

Jaxon Jelkin struggled more than we’ve seen this season, giving up five earned runs on eight hits over five innings, with just one strikeout and one walk. It was an uncharacteristic outing for the Wildcats’ ace.

But Kentucky’s offense came alive late, scoring six runs in the seventh inning to turn the game around and pull away for the win.

Ole Miss Sweeps Doubleheader vs Evansville

Weather forced Ole Miss into a Friday doubleheader, and the Rebels handled both games comfortably.

Ole Miss took the opener 7–2, with Hunter Elliott going five innings, allowing two earned runs with seven strikeouts, though command remains an issue as he also walked four and hit a batter.

In the second game, Ole Miss rolled 14–2, and Cade Townsend continued to look the part.

Townsend went five innings, allowing just one hit with two walks and seven strikeouts, needing only 67 pitches to get through those five innings. He continues to look extremely impressive, and it will be very interesting to see how his role evolves once SEC play begins.

Vanderbilt 14, North Dakota State 2

Vanderbilt bounced back with a dominant performance against North Dakota State.

Connor Fennell delivered one of his best outings of the season, throwing six innings with two earned runs, 11 strikeouts, and no walks.

That’s exactly the type of start Vanderbilt needed after a difficult stretch earlier in the week.

Tennessee 4, Wright State 3

Tennessee needed late-inning heroics, walking it off in the bottom of the ninth to beat Wright State 4–3.

Tegan Kuhns once again looked electric from a stuff standpoint. He finished with five innings pitched, eight hits allowed, three earned runs, no walks, and seven strikeouts.

Even though Wright State created some traffic early, Kuhns settled in nicely and continues to look like a legitimate Friday night arm for Tennessee.

High Point 7, Florida 2

One of the bigger surprises of the night came in Gainesville, where Florida fell 7–2 to High Point.

Despite the loss, Liam Peterson again flashed elite stuff. Peterson went five innings, allowing just one hit while striking out 11, though command issues once again limited his outing. He allowed two earned runs and walked four.

The stuff is undeniable, but improving efficiency will be key for Peterson as SEC play approaches.

Auburn 10, Winthrop 0 (7 innings)

Auburn rolled past a very solid Winthrop team, run-ruling them 10–0.

Jake Marciano continues to look like a true Friday night ace, throwing six shutout innings with six strikeouts.

He walked his first batter of the season and hit four hitters, but as discussed on Friday Night Spikes, that’s often intentional. Marciano aggressively works inside to right-handed hitters to open up the outer half of the plate, and that approach continues to generate results.

Mississippi State 9, Lipscomb 4

Mississippi State picked up another win behind Tomas Valincius, who threw four innings allowing four hits, two earned runs, two walks, and six strikeouts.

It appears the Bulldogs may have been monitoring his pitch count heading into SEC play, but overall it was another solid outing.

Texas 14, South Carolina Upstate 2

Texas continues to roll behind the dominance of Ruger Riojas.

Riojas threw six innings with one earned run (solo homer), four hits, 12 strikeouts, and no walks.

At this point, the way Riojas is throwing the baseball is just absurd. He continues to overpower hitters and looks every bit like one of the best arms in the country.

Alabama 7, North Florida 2

Alabama picked up a strong win against a solid North Florida lineup.

Tyler Fay delivered a very impressive start, throwing seven innings with two earned runs and 11 strikeouts. That’s a quality outing against a team that can swing the bat.

Missouri vs UIC Suspended

Missouri’s game against UIC was interrupted by weather.

The Tigers are currently trailing 12–4 in the top of the fifth inning, and the game is scheduled to resume today.

Friday night starter Javyn Pimentel struggled, allowing six earned runs before the delay. Missouri will try to regroup when the game resumes.

Weather Notes Around the League

Weather has begun affecting several SEC series this weekend.

South Carolina and Princeton are scheduled to play a Saturday doubleheader, and Oklahoma’s Friday game was rained out. The Sooners currently have one game scheduled for Saturday, but depending on conditions, they could also be looking at a doubleheader either today or Sunday.

Final Thoughts

Friday night was largely a nice night for the SEC.

Several teams handled business the way they were expected to, and multiple Friday night starters delivered strong performances heading into conference play.

With SEC play beginning next week, the focus now shifts to finishing this weekend strong and building momentum for what should be another brutal conference schedule.

This weekend should be a get-right weekend for the SEC.

There were some strange midweek results across the conference — most notably LSU dropping two midweek games — and a couple of other SEC clubs took unexpected losses as well. But as we head into the final weekend before conference play, it’s not surprising to see schedules lined up for most teams to regain momentum.

In fact, almost every SEC team is facing an opponent with a losing record this weekend. The only matchups against teams above .500 come from Auburn hosting Winthrop (10–2), Florida hosting High Point (7–6), Alabama hosting North Florida (8–6), and Texas hosting South Carolina Upstate (7–7).

Everyone else is playing a team well under .500.

Three series actually began on Thursday, and those results already set the tone for the weekend.

Thursday Night Results

Missouri kicked off the weekend by edging UIC 9–8 in a back-and-forth game. The Tigers did not start Javyn Pimentel, so it’s likely he’ll take the ball Friday night.

Oklahoma opened its series with a 2–1 win over Santa Clara, and once again Cam Johnson looked dominant. The Oklahoma ace went 5⅓ innings, allowing just two hits and one unearned run while striking out seven. I watched the game back, and outside of one inning in the fourth where a couple runners reached base, he cruised through the lineup. One of his two walks was highly questionable as well. Johnson continues to look every bit like one of the premier starters in the country. LJ Mercurius and Cord Rager look to follow him in what should be another sweep going into SEC play.

Mississippi State also handled business Thursday night, defeating Lipscomb 8–3 behind another strong outing from Ryan McPherson. The Bulldogs’ Friday starter threw six innings, allowing five hits, one earned run, one walk, and eight strikeouts, continuing what has been a very impressive start to the season. Tomas Valincius and Duke Stone are electric arms that shouldn’t have too much trouble following him up.

Arkansas vs. Stetson

Arkansas hosts Stetson, and while the Hatters can swing the bat a bit, the Razorbacks should still take the series at least two games to one.

This weekend is particularly important for Gabe Gaeckle, who will look to bounce back after a tough outing last Friday. Arkansas will also rely on Hunter Dietz to continue his strong form and Colin Fisher to maintain his consistency.

If Gaeckle struggles again, it will be interesting to see if Dave Van Horn considers adjusting the rotation — potentially moving Fisher into the Friday role and sliding Gaeckle back to Saturday. That’s something to watch.

LSU vs. Sacramento State

LSU returns home after dropping two midweek games, and while Sacramento State comes in at 5–8, this series may not be as easy as it appears.

Sacramento State has quietly built a solid pitching staff that limits walks and keeps games under control. LSU’s offense has been inconsistent so far, so the Tigers’ pitching may again need to carry the load.

If the bats finally break out, however, it would be a very encouraging sign for Jay Johnson’s club heading into SEC play.

Alabama vs. North Florida

Alabama gets one of the more interesting matchups of the weekend against North Florida (8–6).

North Florida can hit, posting a .285 team batting average, and their pitching staff overall owns a sub-4.00 ERA. However, their starters have struggled, which suggests Alabama’s key to the series will be jumping on starting pitching early.

If the Crimson Tide can do that, they should control the weekend. If not, the games could be closer than expected.

Georgia vs. Queens

Georgia hosts Queens (4–8) and should take care of business.

The Bulldogs’ offense has been strong, and this series presents an opportunity for the starting rotation to continue building momentum. I’m particularly interested in seeing Joey Volchko on Friday night, as well as Caden Aoki, who has quietly emerged as an intriguing development piece for Georgia’s staff despite not having overpowering velocity.

South Carolina vs. Princeton

South Carolina welcomes Princeton, a program that traditionally plays solid baseball but has struggled this season.

The Tigers are currently batting under .200 as a team, and their pitching numbers have also been rough. South Carolina should be in a position to control this series comfortably.

Texas A&M vs. Oakland

Texas A&M hosts Oakland, and anything short of a sweep would be a disappointment for the Aggies.

Oakland has battled injuries and a difficult early schedule and currently carries a team ERA over 10. One bright spot to watch for Oakland is freshman Ben Green, who threw well against Georgia last weekend and may give the Aggies a tougher test on Sunday.

Still, Texas A&M should handle this series.

Ole Miss vs. Evansville

Ole Miss hosts Evansville, whose offensive and pitching numbers both paint a difficult picture.

Evansville enters the weekend batting under .200 with a team ERA approaching 7.00, so Ole Miss should have an opportunity to put together a strong weekend and build momentum before conference play begins.

Kentucky vs. The Citadel

Kentucky hosts The Citadel, whose pitching staff has actually performed reasonably well with a team ERA under 4.00.

However, The Citadel offense is struggling, batting around .205, which plays directly into Kentucky’s strength: pitching. The Wildcats’ staff has been dominant so far this season.

With Tyler Bell nearing a return, there could also be some renewed energy around the lineup. Kentucky should take at least two of three.

Vanderbilt vs. North Dakota State

Vanderbilt badly needs a bounce-back weekend.

The Commodores struggled last weekend and also dropped a midweek game to Central Arkansas before rebounding with a 4–1 win over Troy on Wednesday.

The big story this weekend is the absence of Austin Nye, who exited his last start with what appears to be biceps tendonitis or inflammation. Early reports suggest it’s not a major injury, but it will be something to monitor.

Replacing him in the rotation is Wyatt Nadeau, a tall freshman right-hander who throws 94–96 mph, mixes a big 80 mph curveball, and features a sharp 88–90 gyro slider that generated swings and misses against Arizona last weekend.

North Dakota State enters the series 1–11, so this will be a good opportunity to see how Nadeau handles his first weekend start.

Florida vs. High Point

Florida hosts High Point (7–6), one of the better opponents on the SEC schedule this weekend.

High Point hits reasonably well with a .265 team batting average, so they may be competitive at times, but Florida is playing excellent baseball right now and should control the series.

Tennessee vs. Wright State

Tennessee hosts Wright State, a team with some history in Knoxville after their strong showing in the 2021 regional.

Wright State has a talented Friday starter in Cam Allen, but he’s had a rough start to the season and appears to be dealing with injuries. If he’s not at full strength, Tennessee’s pitching staff should give the Volunteers a major advantage.

Expect Tennessee to take care of business at home.

Auburn vs. Winthrop

One of the most intriguing matchups of the weekend might be Auburn hosting Winthrop (10–2).

Winthrop’s numbers are impressive: a 3.45 team ERA, strong strike-throwing ability with very few walks, and a .275 team batting average. They don’t hit for much power, but they consistently put the ball in play.

That combination could make this a low-scoring, competitive series, especially since Auburn’s pitching staff has also been excellent.

Auburn should win the series, but this is one where dropping a game wouldn’t be surprising.

Texas vs. South Carolina Upstate

Texas hosts South Carolina Upstate (7–7), a team that can swing the bat with a .296 team average.

However, the pitching staff has struggled, posting a team ERA above 6.00, which could lead to a high-scoring weekend for the Longhorns.

Texas’ pitching staff has been outstanding so far, so expect them to control this series.

Final Thoughts

Heading into the final weekend before conference play, this is a weekend where the SEC should largely take care of business.

Most teams are facing opponents with losing records, and the expectation should be sweeps across much of the league.

The few exceptions where things could get interesting:

• Auburn vs. Winthrop

• Alabama vs. North Florida

• Arkansas vs. Stetson

• LSU vs. Sacramento State

Otherwise, the SEC should use this weekend to build momentum before conference play begins next week.