LEXINGTON — Kentucky baseball’s NCAA Tournament opener went its way Friday, as it topped Western Michigan, 10-8.

A far bigger challenge awaits Saturday: Illinois, which has won 30 of its past 39 games and captured the Big Ten’s regular-season title.

The Wildcats, league champions themselves after earning a share of the SEC’s regular-season title for the first time since 2006, will try to do what they couldn’t do last year: beat a Big Ten squad in the second game of a regional. After shutting out Ball State in its first outing, UK fell to Indiana in Game 2. Kentucky then had to win three consecutive games to clinch only its second Super Regional appearance ever.

And Saturday, the Wildcats and Fighting Illini will have to get their bodies ready earlier than anticipated: The contest was originally slated to start at 6 p.m., but potential inclement weather in the Lexington area moved up first pitch to 55 minutes after the conclusion of the Western Michigan/Indiana State game.

Now, the UK/Illinois matchup is scheduled to begin at approximately 4 p.m.

Get to the game: Want to buy Kentucky baseball tickets for the Lexington Regional? Here are your best options for 2024 NCAA Tournament

More: Watch Kentucky baseball vs. Illinois and the NCAA Lexington Regional on ESPN+

The Courier Journal’s Ryan Black is at Kentucky Proud Park and will have live updates throughout the game — here and on X, formerly known as Twitter — and complete coverage after. You can follow him on X at @RyanABlack.

What channel is Kentucky vs Illinois on today?

Kentucky’s NCAA Tournament regional game against Illinois will stream at approximately 4 p.m. Saturday on ESPN+.

You can watch the game on WatchESPN.com, the WatchESPN app or ESPN+. Authenticated subscribers can access ESPN+ via TV-connected devices. Those without access to ESPN+ can access the game via a subscription to ESPN+. (To sign up for ESPN+, click here.)

Kentucky vs Illinois start time

First pitch for Saturday’s game in Lexington is set for approximately 4 p.m. It will start 55 minutes after the completion of Saturday’s first game between Indiana State and Western Michigan.

Kentucky vs Illinois prediction

Kentucky 5, Illinois 4: On paper, this matchup is like splitting hairs. Illinois averages 8.2 runs per game; Kentucky is at 8.1. The expected starting pitchers, UK’s Trey Pooser and Illinois’ Cooper Omans, have nearly identical rates in hits allowed per nine innings (7.01 for Omans, 7.14 for Pooser) and walks + hits per innings pitched — better known by its acronym WHIP — that has Pooser (1.18) slightly ahead of Omans (1.24). When teams are this evenly matched, give the most infinitesimal of edges to the squad playing in its home venue. In this case, that’s the Wildcats, who escape with a one-run victory to improve to 2-0 at the regional.

Kentucky vs Illinois location

All games in the NCAA Tournament’s Lexington Regional will be held at UK’s home stadium, Kentucky Proud Park.

Kentucky baseball schedule 2024

Kentucky is 41-14 in 2024, including 22-8 in SEC play during the regular season. The Wildcats claimed a share of the league’s regular-season title for only the second time in school history.

Click here to see the Wildcats’ full 2024 schedule.

Illinois baseball schedule 2024

Illnois is 35-19, going 18-6 in the Big Ten during the regular season. The Fighting Illini won the Big Ten’s regular-season championship for the first time since 2015.

Click here to see the Fighting Illini’s full 2024 schedule.

Kentucky baseball roster

Interested in seeing the Wildcats’ entire roster?

Click here to meet the 2024 UK baseball team.

Illinois baseball roster

Want to learn Fighting Illini’s roster?

Click here for player bios and more.

NCAA Lexington regionals schedule

Here’s the slate for Saturday’s two games in the NCAA Lexington Regional:

• Western Michigan vs. Indiana State, noon; Live stream: ESPN+; Stream: ESPN+
• Kentucky vs. Illinois, approx. 4 p.m.; Live stream: ESPN+; Stream: ESPN+

NCAA Lexington regionals bracket

Here’s a look at every game set to take place during the Lexington Regional at Kentucky Proud Park:

Friday, May 31

Saturday, June 1

• Game 3: Western Michigan vs. Indiana State, noon; Live stream: ESPN+; Stream: ESPN+
• Game 4: Kentucky vs. Illinois, approx. 4 p.m.; Live stream: ESPN+; Stream: ESPN+

Sunday, June 2

• Game 5: Winner Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, noon; TV: TBD 
• Game 6: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 4, 6 p.m.; TV: TBD 

Monday, June 3 (if necessary) 

• Game 7: Same teams as Game 6, Time TBD; TV: TBD 

2024 College World Series bracket

Interested in seeing the 64-team bracket for this year’s NCAA Tournament?

Click here to view it on the NCAA’s official website.

2024 NCAA baseball tournament odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM.

Kentucky has the fifth-best odds, at +1000, to win the College World Series, per BetMGM.

The four favorites to capture the title are four other SEC squads: Tennessee (+500), Texas A&M (+550), Arkansas (+900) and defending national champion LSU (+900).

Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.