LSU reached the College World Series for the first time since 2017 and faces Tennessee in its opening game at 6 p.m. Saturday in Omaha, Nebraska. Here are five key questions for the Tigers as they chase their seventh national title — and first since 2009.
1. Will LSU’s power translate to Charles Schwab Field?
LSU has multiple ways to score — it either led or ranked near the top of the Southeastern Conference in every major offensive category — but one of the most effective has been through home runs. The Tigers have 133 homers this season, the most among the eight teams in the field ahead of Florida (129) and Wake Forest (129). In five home postseason games, LSU hit 16 home runs.
Charles Schwab Field presents a potential wrinkle with spacious dimensions and wind sometimes in from the Missouri River. Only six home runs were hit in 30 games at the CWS between 2013-14. However, those numbers have gone up with new balls and less-restricted bats. At least 18 home runs were hit in the five CWS since 2017, and there have been 28 each of the last two years.
Perhaps these Tigers can slug their way through the ballpark, but they’ll likely need to score without home runs at times. The pitching is better at this stage. And only one of the last three national champions, Ole Miss in 2022, hit more than 100 home runs in a season.
2. Can Ty Floyd keep his pitch count down?
In two NCAA tournament starts so far this season, junior Ty Floyd’s pitch counts rose early. He threw 71 pitches in three innings before a three-hour weather delay forced him out of the regional. He then threw 82 pitches in the super regional clincher against Kentucky before he was pulled with one out in the fourth inning.
LSU needs Floyd to keep his pitch count down and last deeper into his next outing. He has been the clear No. 2 throughout the season, recording a 4.50 ERA in 15 starts. A quality start from him could keep LSU in the winner’s bracket and save pitchers for other games, putting the Tigers in a good position to reach the championship series.
3. Can the bullpen maintain its form?
A point of concern at times this season, LSU’s pitching staff rounded into form in the NCAA tournament. Thatcher Hurd delivered five key innings in the second game of the regional. Gavin Guidry allowed one run in 4 ⅓ innings. Riley Cooper gave up two runs over 6 ⅔ innings. Griffin Herring, Nate Ackenhausen and Blake Money maintained leads in relief.
LSU seems to have found a formula with that group, and you generally need five to seven reliable pitchers to win the CWS. The Tigers should have enough arms then if they continue to pitch well. Others, particularly left-hander Javen Coleman, could also appear after not pitching yet during the postseason.
4. Who’s the ‘X’ factor?
Cooper and Guidry seem like the answers from the pitching staff. Cooper has CWS experience at Arizona, and he has allowed two runs over 11 innings since the SEC tournament. Guidry, a true freshman, has been vital out of the bullpen late in games.
Any number of position players could make the difference. Josh Pearson gave the lineup a recent spark. Gavin Dugas has delivered clutch hits throughout this career. Jordan Thompson, despite batting .273, has enough power to turn a game. Or, perhaps, a pinch-hit spot comes up for freshman Jared Jones and his 14 home runs.
5. Who starts if LSU ends up in the loser’s bracket?
LSU has a clear path to the finals if it wins the first two games. But what if the Tigers fall into the loser’s bracket and face multiple elimination games to reach the championship series, like they did in 2017? That year, ace Alex Lange started twice and Caleb Gilbert made a spot-start to beat Oregon State, sending LSU to the finals.
In that scenario, someone may have to start who hasn’t as much this season. Would LSU go with Hurd, who pitched five innings and allowed four runs or less in each of his last three appearances? What about Coleman, who hasn’t pitched since a brief relief outing May 26 in the SEC Tournament? Maybe it’s Cooper, the experienced lefty with three starts this season, including one in the regional. Or could Paul Skenes go on short rest, then be available for a third time a few days later?
The answer depends on game flow and availability. Ideally, LSU would win three straight to reach the championship. But if the Tigers have to play five times to win their side of the bracket, someone has to step up.