LSU vs. Kentucky: 2023 Baton Rouge Super Regional preview, prediction

One of two series’ pitting a pair of SEC teams against one another this weekend, LSU is set to host Kentucky for the 2023 Baton Rouge Super Regional. A rematch from earlier this year in which the Tigers took two-of-three from Kentucky in Baton Rouge, which team will claim the series win this time around to book a trip to Omaha?

LSU vs. Kentucky: 2023 Baton Rouge Super Regional preview, prediction

When:

• Game 1: Saturday, June 10 at 3:00 PM ET on ESPN/ESPN+
• Game 2: Sunday, June 11 at TBD on ESPN+
• Game 3 (If Necessary): Monday, June 12 at TBD on ESPN+

Where: Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field, Baton Rouge, LA

The No. 5 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, LSU enters the weekend sitting at 46-15 overall this season, a record that also included a 19-10 mark in SEC play. LSU is also coming off a strong showing in the Baton Rouge Regional by defeating Tulane and Oregon State twice, and own an impressive 31-7 record at home this season.

One of the SEC’s top offensive teams, the Tigers are batting for a combined .314 AVG this season, led by the 2023 SEC Player of the Year in outfielder Dylan Crews at a .432 AVG with 17 HR and 63 RBI. LSU also has one of the SEC’s other top hitters in third baseman Tommy White at a .378 AVG with 20 HR and 93 RBI, while Cade Beloso, Brayden Jobert, Tre’ Morgan, and Hayden Travinski are also hitting .300+ this season.

The Tigers pitching staff is led by the 2023 SEC Pitcher of the Year in right-hander Paul Skenes, who owns an 11-2 record with a 1.90 ERA and 179:17 K:BB ratio across 99.1 IP. LSU’s pitching staff overall owns a combined 4.64 ERA, with others such as Ty Floyd, Riley Cooper, Thatcher Hurd, Nate Ackenhausen, and Gavin Guidry among the additional names to know.

Kentucky however is the No. 12 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, with the Wildcats sitting at 40-19 overall for the year, a record that included a 16-14 mark in SEC play. The Wildcats are also coming off winning the Lexington Regional, going 4-1 with victories over Ball State, West Virginia, and two over Indiana.

Offensively, the Wildcats are batting for a combined .293 AVG as a team this season, and have a total of three .300+ hitters in Jackson Gray, Hunter Gilliam, and Emilien Pitre. Kentucky also has numerous other names to know that are each prominent hitters, a group that includes Devin Burkes, Jase Felker, Reuben Church, Grant Smith, Nolan McCarthy, and more.

The Wildcats pitching staff owns a combined 4.17 ERA this season, with names such as Zack Lee, Tyler Bosma, Travis Smith, and Logan Martin among the rotation options so far this year. Kentucky also has multiple names to know in the bullpen, a group that includes the likes of Darren Williams, Mason Moore, Jackson Nove, Austin Strickland, and more.

As for a prediction, LSU took two-of-three from the Wildcats earlier this season at home, and I’ll say that the Tigers win this series as well. Yes, Kentucky could potentially force a game three, but I’ll say that LSU ends this series in two games to advance to Omaha.

Series Prediction: LSU wins two games