No. 4 Tennessee Baseball at No. 3 Kentucky: How To Watch, Pitching Matchups, Prediction | Rocky Top Insider

LHP Chris Stamos (1 GS, 3-0, 3.45 ERA, 15.2 IP, 15 K, 9 BB, .96 WHIP) vs. RHP Trey Pooser (3-0, 4.11 ERA, 35 IP, 33 K, 13 BB, 1.23 WHIP)

RHP Drew Beam (9 GS, 5-1, 3.16 ERA, 51.1 IP, 45 K, 10 BB, 1.27 WHIP) vs. LHP Dominic Niman (7-2, 3.40 ERA, 53 IP, 47 K, 14 BB, 1.09 WHIP)

LHP Zander Sechrist (9 GS, 1-0, 3.34 ERA, 32.1 IP, 37 K, 6 BB, 1.14 WHIP) vs. RHP Mason Moore (7-0, 3.45 ERA, 47 IP, 43 K, 22 BB, 1.17 WHIP)

Bats To Know

Tennessee:

1B Blake Burke — .422/.483/.859, 13 HR, 33 EBH, 36 RBI, 16 BB, 21 K

2B Christian Moore — .352/.429/.754, 15 HR, 27 EBH, 36 RBI, 18 BB, 28 K

3B Billy Amick — .359/.455/.796, 12 HR, 20 EBH, 30 RBI, 16 BB, 21 K

OF Kavares Tears — .377/.493/.737, 11 HR, 19 EBH, 30 RBI, 27 BB, 25 K

LF Dylan Dreiling — .333/.461/.789, 13 HR, 25 EBH, 44 RBI, 26 BB, 30 K

Kentucky:

Nick Lopez — .403/.459/.636, 4 HR, 20 EBH, 29 RBI, 14 BB, 10 K

Ryan Waldschmidt — .339/.500/.578, 6 HR, 14 EBH, 25 RBI, 27 BB, 20 K, 13 SB

Ryan Nicholson — .312/.432/.670, 11 HR, 17 EBH, 37 RBI, 20 BB, 26 K,

Emilien Pitre — .310/.420/.521, 5 HR, 19 EBH, 35 RBI, 26 BB, 24 K, 19 SB

Devin Burkes — .235/.369/.353, 2 HR, 10 EBH, 23 RBI, 17 BB, 10 K

Last Three Series

Tennesse:

• Swept LSU in Knoxville
• Won two out of three at Auburn
• Won two out of three against Georgia at home

Kentucky:

• Swept Auburn on the road
• Swept Alabama in Tuscaloosa
• Swept Ole Miss in Oxford

Prediction

Tennessee heads to Kentucky for its most highly touted series of the season to date. It’s a top five matchup that pits two teams with different styles against one another.

With Kentucky’s small ball style, Tennessee’s defense will be key this weekend. The Vols have been better there this season and this weekend will be a real test.

I think Tennessee is a slightly better team but with this series being on the road and with the ball park and weather playing to Kentucky’s advantage I’m taking the Wildcats to win the series. This one feels like a true toss up and I think all three games will be competitive.

Kentucky wins two out of three