The Border War has come down to this. With Kansas' upset win over Texas A&M tonight, they advance to Saturday's Big 12 Tournament semifinal to face Missouri. Because of the tourney's double-elimination format and the Tigers' perfect record so far, Tim Jamieson's squad will have two chances to top the Jayhawks. Though overall regular season records and stats seem to favor Missouri, Kansas took two of three in the regular season series between the teams in Lawrence. That series belied Missouri's inconsistency this season and further clouds predicting the coming game(s).
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| Brett Graves KBIA Sports Extra |
Brett Graves seems like the logical choice to start Saturday for the Tigers. The freshman righty has shown this season that, well, he's a freshman. He has big-time stuff - a fastball hitting the low-mid 90s and a big curveball - but also a history of control problems and a strange propensity for hitting batters, plunking nine in 45.2 innings. Whomever starts isn't really a concern for Missouri, though, as Rob Zastrzyny's 8.1 innings Wednesday and Blake Holovach and Jeff Emens taking care of the Aggies Thursday leaves the Tiger bullpen very fresh and ready for use. If Graves struggles, Missouri could just plug Ryan Yuengel, who's been very impressive this season, in his spot. Emens only threw three and two thirds innings Thursday, so he's also available. John Miles is another capable arm that has remained unused in the tournament. In fact, Miles could also start, but his rough outing against the Jayhawks May 18 makes Graves the more likely choice.
The point is that the Tiger bullpen is in a great spot right now. However, Kansas' pen is too. Thomas Taylor threw an absolutely herculean complete game to beat the Aggies, hurling more than 150 pitches over nine innings. With Taylor spent, Kansas has used up its top three starters but has also limited itself to three relievers over three games.
The point is that the Tiger bullpen is in a great spot right now. However, Kansas' pen is too. Thomas Taylor threw an absolutely herculean complete game to beat the Aggies, hurling more than 150 pitches over nine innings. With Taylor spent, Kansas has used up its top three starters but has also limited itself to three relievers over three games.
Missouri's offense in the tournament so far has been good, but not great, scoring five runs in each of their past two games (though they have had to face two high-round MLB Draft prospects in Texas' Corey Knebel and Texas A&M's Michael Wacha). So while there is a possibility that the Tiger bats will unload on Kansas' pitching, whose ERA was second-to-last in the Big 12 this season, I'm predicting that this game (or two) will be decided by arms. And what better way for a notoriously acrimonious rivalry, flush with history, to end than a good old pitchers' duel?
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