College World Series

Saturday, 6-24

Rasmussen is going to be high risk/high reward for the Beavers. He's just a year off Tommy John surgery and only pitched 22.1 IP this season in 7 apps, 4 were starts. His last start was against Yale in the regionals where he went four innings and gave up one run. OSU wants something similar and then they'll turn it over to their pen to do the rest. Gilbert worked more out of the pen with only four of his 27 appearances as starts. He's been great though with a 2.21 ERA and he's got all the pitches, a plus fastball and a variety of good off-speed stuff. He's mopped up for Poche in his subpar postseason starts before the CWS and kept LSU in a winning position every time. 

Total is 8 on this game and that feels about right. I'd lean under there as both these pitchers could shut down the offenses much like we saw in the last game with Lange and Thompson. I tend to think the better play in this game is LSU +125. Oregon State hasn't lost much this year and now they're in an elimination game coming off their 1st loss in weeks. 

G2: Faedo (FLA) vs Janczak (TCU)

A repeat of their CWS opener that Florida won 3-0. Total is set at 8.5 and I think you can thank TCU's output last night for that. I think that is at least a run, maybe a run and a half higher than what I would have expected. I'd be stunned if Janczak was as bad as he was in the first game when he walked five and only went four innings. Faedo could easily be as electric again and limit a TCU offense that despite yesterday's output has not been consistent, especially the top of the order. To me the best play is under 8.5 

Good luck with whatever you play today.

Hard not to love LSU in the finals with no chance Faedo pitches. 

FLA: Brady Singer

LSU: Russell Reynolds

If Florida is going to have a chance in this series, tonight is a must win and sets up as the best pitching match-up for them. They put out a guy who has been very good in the postseason in Singer, who also pitched a CG against LSU in the regular season in an 8-1 Gators win. Reynolds has been mostly a bullpen piece, but brings senior leadership and will have all of Baton Rouge rooting for him to do well. His 8.59 ERA and .339 BAA doesn't inspire confidence though for a pitcher who has not started all year. 

Singer was electric against a good Louisville team and having faced LSU, he should have a good game plan. Total is at 8 and tough to call, although I still trend under thinking LSU will pull Reynolds quickly if he's getting hit hard. Still for me the Florida moneyline at +120 is what I like and seems to provide a real nice price based on the pitching match-up.

Florida was in charge most of the game and worked to their favor for the 4-3 win. Next two games, LSU will have a decided pitching edge with Poche and Lange if they make it to a 3rd game. Guessing LSU will continue to be a solid favorite as a result. Will wait for lines and see who Florida is running out. Kinda thinking they might run out Tyler Dyson. Several options, but none will be great and probably a night where their pen will be used quite a bit. 

Poche waa great against Florida State last time until he gave up a couple HRs in the 9th. He's been a bit inconsistent though - tagged for runs by TX Southern in the Regionals (bad defense) & Miss State in Supers. FLA got to him for four runs in the regular season start & he was gone early. 

LSU needs a strong start from Poche sfter going to the pen early yesterday.  Florida has fresh arms since Singer went deep - so they could yank Dyson early if he is off. Not big on a side but will say I'd either be on FLA or nothing. 

I like over 7.5 tonight. Think the familiarity helps & unlike with Singer - neither Poche or Dyson dominated in the regular season series.

It's not flukey or lucky when your pitching is shutting down potent offenses. The bad base running or coaching decisions is part of the game. LSU may win tonight, but I think the game will be relatively close. 

I am rooting for them to get another game and I want to see Lange pitch again against presumably Kowar for a Game 3.