Friday, March 31
Columbia, Mo.
6:30 PM
University of Missouri
vs
Florida
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No. 23 @MizzouBaseball Set for Top-25 Showdown with No. 9 Gators
3/30/2017 12:03:00 PM | Baseball
First weekend series between ranked teams at Taylor Stadium since 2008
| MIZZOU, FLORIDA SET FOR TOP-25 SEC EAST SHOWDOWN | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OPPONENT | LOCATION | DAY | TIME | Listen | Stats | Watch |
| Florida | Taylor Stadium | Friday, March 31 | 6:30 p.m. | KTGR | Stats | SEC Network+ |
| Florida | Taylor Stadium | Saturday, April 1 | 2:00 p.m. | KTGR | Stats | SEC Network+ |
| Florida | Taylor Stadium | Sunday, April 2 | 1:00 p.m. | KTGR | Stats | SEC Network+ |
Game Notes | Season Tickets | Single Game Tickets | Break Time Lounge
- A top-25 matchup is set for this weekend at Taylor Stadium as No. 9 Florida heads to Columbia, Mo., for a three-game series with No. 23 Mizzou Baseball. Mizzou is currently 4-2 in SEC play and sits third in the SEC East while Florida comes into the weekend at 2-4 in fifth place. Mizzou is coming off of a series loss to Arkansas last weekend at Taylor Stadium while Florida took two of three from nationally-ranked LSU in Gainesville. Florida won its midweek game with Florida State, 4-1, while Mizzou fell to SEMO, 6-5.
- This weekend marks the first weekend series at Taylor Stadium between top-25 ranked teams since May of 2008 when No. 14 Mizzou hosted No. 5 Nebraska in what turned into a three-game series sweep for Mizzou over the Huskers. Mizzou was ranked for several weeks during the 2015 season but never hosted another ranked team at Taylor Stadium while ranked that year.
- This weekend's series marks the Gators' first trip to Columbia since 2015 when Mizzou took two of three from the then-No. 4 ranked Gators. Mizzou and Florida have split six all-time meetings played at Taylor Stadium as Florida won two of three during Mizzou's first year in the SEC in 2013.
- Last year, Mizzou was swept in Gainesville as Florida has won three straight games in the series after Mizzou had won two straight.
- Friday night's game is arguably the top pitching matchup in the nation all season as Mizzou junior RHP Tanner Houck will get the ball against Florida ace RHP Alex Faedo. In his career, Houck is 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA in 14.0 innings against the Gators. He has allowed 11 hits, six runs (all earned) with eight strikeouts and three walks. Last time he faced Florida at home, he went 8.0 innings, allowing just one run with six strikeouts and no walks in a win.
- Mizzou struggled scoring runs in last year's series at Florida with just 10 over the three games; five came in the Sunday finale. However, Mizzou lost by just one run Friday and two Sunday and was in all three games against the top-ranked Gators. Below are some notable hitter lines in their careers vs. Florida.
- Connor Brumfield: 4-for-10, 2B, RBI, 2 BB
- Brian Sharp: 2-for-7, RBI, R, 3 BB
- Brett Bond: 4-for-22, 2 2B, HR, 3 R
- Trey Harris: 5-for-23, 3 R, 2 RBI, 2B
- A key for Mizzou's hitters this weekend will be limiting strikeouts against a Gator staff that has struck out 240 on the season. Last year, Mizzou struck out 44 times over the three-game series while drawing just seven walks. This year's team has showed a more patient approach than a year ago, so that is something to watch this weekend.
- Since being swept by Auburn during the opening weekend of play, Florida is 4-1 with three wins over top-10 teams. Catcher Mike Rivera has led the way for Florida in that span, hitting .389 with seven RBI.
- The strength of Florida is its pitching staff, highlighted by its incredible weekend rotation. Its starting pitchers hold a 2.14 ERA in 147.1 innings and 134 strikeouts. The Gators are fourth in the SEC in ERA and first in fielding as runs are hard to come by against Kevin O'Sullivan's team.
- Florida has struggled offensively this season, ranking last in the SEC in batting, 13th in slugging and last in on-base percentage.
- Mizzou and Florida have both played their fair share of one-run games this season. Mizzou won its first seven one-run games before losing consecutive games by a single tally. Florida has played 12 one-run games this season with a 7-5 mark in those games.
Pitching Matchups
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Friday
RHP Tanner Houck (3-2, 2.80 ERA) vs. RHP Alex Faedo (4-1, 2.39 ERA) -
Saturday
LHP Michael Plassmeyer (4-0, 2.73 ERA) vs. RHP Brady Singer (3-1, 1.58 ERA) -
Sunday
TBA vs. RHP Jackson Kowar (3-4, 2.48 ERA)
Series History
- Mizzou trails the all-time series with Florida, 14-4, after being swept a year ago in Gainesville. Mizzou had won two consecutive games in the series after winning two of three from the Gators in Columbia during the 2015 season. Mizzou is 3-3 all-time vs. the Gators in Columbia and just 3-9 since joining the SEC for the 2013 season.
• Series Record: Florida leads, 14-4
- Columbia: Tied, 3-3
- Gainesville: Florida leads, 10-1
- Neutral Sites: Florida leads, 1-0
• Last Shutout: Florida, 5-0 (4/26/14)
• Most Runs, Missouri: 14 - (14-5 win on 2/24/06)
• Margin, Missouri: 9, 2x - (last 10-1 on 4/4/15)
• Most Runs, Florida: 10 - (10-2 win on 2/28/92)
• Margin, Florida: 8 - (10-2 on 2/28/92)
• Longest Win Streak, Mizzou: 2 (4/4/15-4/5/15)
• Longest Win Streak, UF: 5 (5/22/81-2/24/06)
• Current Streak: Florida, Won 3
HOUCK VS. FAEDO
- Friday night's game will feature what is arguably the nation's top pitching matchup all season as Mizzou junior RHP Tanner Houck will square off against Florida ace RHP Alex Faedo. Both are projected top-10 MLB Draft picks this summer and have proven track records of dominating the SEC.
- The two pitched with USA Baseball's Collegiate National Team last summer, the second straight year that Houck has been with the team. Both Houck and Faedo at one point have been ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the 2017 MLB Draft by Baseball America. Below is a look at the comparisons between the two as they get set to pitch against one another Friday. Their numbers are wildly similar.
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Stat Houck Faedo Preseason All-SEC Second Team First Team Preseason All-American First Team First Team 2016 Summer Ball USA Baseball USA Baseball Highest 2017 MLB Draft Prospect Rank 1st 1st Current Baseball American Prospect Rank 8th 1st Career ERA 3.17 3.05 Career Wins 16 23 Strikeouts 237 234 Career Walks 50 50 Career K/BB 4.74 4.68 Career IP 241.1 203.2 100-inning seasons 2 1 Career WHIP 1.02 1.08 Shutout Appearances 7 11 Career 7.0+ Inning Appearances 17 8 Career 6.0+ Inning Appearances 30 13 -
Last year, both Houck and Faedo started in the series played at McKethan Stadium but did not face one another head-to-head. Houck went 6.0 innings against the Gators and took the loss, allowing seven hits and five earned runs. Just as Florida knocked around Houck a bit, Mizzou did the same to Faedo on Sunday, posting five earned runs on six hits over 5.2 innings. Both will be looking for better outings this time around.
SHARP HAS BEEN, WELL SHARP
- Coming into the 2017 season, Mizzou's coaching staff was extremely high on sophomore 1B Brian Sharp, who had a breakout fall season leading the Tigers in virtually every offensive category. After going 0-for-4 and seeing his average dip to just .265 on March 4 against UIC, Sharp has been on a tear over his last 15 games and has arguably been the Tigers' top run producer in that time. Below is a look:
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Stat Last 15 Team Rank First 10 (rank) Avg. .436 1st .265 (12th) OBP .500 1st .381 (9th) Slugging .691 1st .412 (10th) Hits 24 1st 9 (5th) Total Bases 38 1st 14 (7th) Doubles 5 1st 3 (3rd) Homers 3 1st 0 (5th) Runs 11 3rd 10 (3rd) RBI 10 5th 3 (10th) - Sharp has seven multi-hit games and has reached base safely in all 15 games during his current hot streak. He has walked 10 times in those 15 games and totaled 38 total bases.
- Sharp had just 15 RBI and two extra-base hits all year last year. He has 13 RBI and 12 extra-base hits this season already.
- What makes Sharp special is his performance as a two-way player. During the last 15 games, he has also made three pitching appearances in that span, allowing just one hit over 4.1 shutout innings with three strikeouts. He is limiting batters to .071 hitting in that span.
HARRIS SHOWS AN IMPROVED, PATIENT APPROACH
- Since his freshman year at Mizzou, junior OF Trey Harris has been one of Mizzou's top run producers. This year is no different as he leads the team and ranks third in the SEC with 26 RBI, but he is doing so this year with a refined approach at the plate.
- Harris has already drawn a career-high 22 walks in just 76 at-bats (one walk every 3.5 at-bats). Harris had just 17 walks all year in 2016 (186 at-bats) and had just 27 walks in two full seasons at Mizzou (369 career at-bats) heading into the season. That is nearly 14 at-bats between walks as opposed to 3.5 this season.
- As expected, his on-base percentage this year is much higher than his career average. He entered the year with a .303 career mark but is reaching base at .451 clip this season.
- And while he has been more patient at the plate, he has not sacrificed the run production for the sake of walks as he leads the team with 26 RBI while ranking second on the team with 10 two-out RBI.
SAMPLES HEATING UP
- One of Mizzou's hottest hitters heading into the weekend is junior 3B Alex Samples, who has posted three consecutive multi-hit games for the first time in his career. After seeing his average dip to .214 after the Saturday game at Alabama, a hot couple of games has his average up to. 260 as he is 7-for-17 with five runs scored over the last four games.
SIKKEMA HAS BEEN SICK
- Mizzou Baseball may have the best reliever in the nation in freshman LHP T.J. Sikkema. His numbers are downright ridiculous and he shows no sign of slowing down. Before Tuesday vs. SEMO, he had a win or a save in eight consecutive appearances and leads the SEC in wins while checking in at eighth in saves. He earned a win last Saturday vs. Arkansas after pitching the final 4.0 innings. He did lose a 29.2 inning shutout streak in that game, but even with that streak ending, his numbers are out of control. Below is a look:
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Stat Total SEC Rank National Freshmen Rank (National Wins 5 1st 3rd 1st WHIP 0.71 1st 4th 2nd Hits/9 4.45 1st 6th 3rd K/9 13.64 1st 6th 1st ERA 0.56 1st 5th 1st Ks 49 4th 23rd 2nd K/BB 7.00 5 37th 3rd -
In addition to ranking among the nation's elite in virtually every major pitching category, it is important to note that Sikkema has been used in more high-leverage situations out of Mizzou's bullpen than any other pitcher. Starting with his 2.2 inning save against nationally-ranked Houston on Feb. 24, he has been a true shut-down arm as Mizzou's coaching staff uses him whenever the game is on the line. That is evidenced by his eight consecutive decisions (five wins, three saves).
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LSU's Jared Poche' has stolen most of the pitching headlines this year in the SEC, but Sikkema leads the SEC in ERA, opposing batting (.148), strikeouts looking (23) and wins (five).
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What is even more incredible is the rate that he strike batters out. He has faced 119 batters this season and retired 93 of them. Of his 93 outs recorded at the plate, 49 have come via strikeout (53%) and 47 percent of those have been of the looking variety.
For all the latest on Mizzou Baseball, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Twitter (@MizzouBaseball) and like the team on Facebook and Instagram (Mizzou Baseball and missouri_baseball, respectively).
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