Game starts at 6:00pm. Louisville is ranked somewhere around 7th in the nation. They aren't exactly invincible at 18-8 (10-4) and they look to be especially vulnerable during the midweek. So far they have lost to Morehead State (12-11), Eastern Kentucky (9-17) and Cincinnati (11-4) during the midweek.
In particular, Louisville is struggling to figure out their pitching. They have played 14 games in the ACC and they have had 5 different guys start in those. Only one pitcher has started all 5 conference weekends. Everyone else is shuffled around. I think that is in part because of an injury to Glenn Albanese. Regardless, it makes it a bit difficult to predict who UK might face. Last week Luke Smith actually started the Cincinnati game on Tuesday and went 3 innings before coming back on Sunday and starting against Wake Forrest and going 4.1. I doubt UK sees him again. I am thinking that it will be Barret Seamus, but that is a guess. More likely than not, UL will look to use a lot of arms.
On the bases... look out... UL will run for days. In fact, they are second in the country in stolen bases with 74 (UK has 33). Louisville is a top 25 hitting team (.296) and they score over 7 runs a game on average. So, look for them to hit and be moving on the bases to score those runs. Kessler and UK pitching will have their work cut out for them keeping runners close.
For UK, I think we are going to see a different approach on the mound tonight than we normally see.
In particular, Louisville is struggling to figure out their pitching. They have played 14 games in the ACC and they have had 5 different guys start in those. Only one pitcher has started all 5 conference weekends. Everyone else is shuffled around. I think that is in part because of an injury to Glenn Albanese. Regardless, it makes it a bit difficult to predict who UK might face. Last week Luke Smith actually started the Cincinnati game on Tuesday and went 3 innings before coming back on Sunday and starting against Wake Forrest and going 4.1. I doubt UK sees him again. I am thinking that it will be Barret Seamus, but that is a guess. More likely than not, UL will look to use a lot of arms.
On the bases... look out... UL will run for days. In fact, they are second in the country in stolen bases with 74 (UK has 33). Louisville is a top 25 hitting team (.296) and they score over 7 runs a game on average. So, look for them to hit and be moving on the bases to score those runs. Kessler and UK pitching will have their work cut out for them keeping runners close.
For UK, I think we are going to see a different approach on the mound tonight than we normally see.