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Baseball season is here, and Tim Tadlock's Red Raiders will host four more weekend homestands against Big 12 foes Baylor, TCU, Oklahoma State, and Kansas.

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The Sooners have been quietly off to a great start this season, sitting at 23-5 on the year going into the weekend matchup with the Red Raiders.

Oklahoma has interestingly played 19 home games already this season, however, a huge number for any team this early on in the season. Their most impressive wins so far have come against Baylor, as OU took two of three from the Bears.

Their early season surge has taken place both at the plate and on the dish, as the Sooners are leading the Big 12 in nearly every batting category to go along with leading the conference in staff ERA and lowest opponent batting average.

Some of that might have to do with the fact that the Sooners have played one of the weakest non-con schedules in the conference to begin the year too, but that doesn't take away from the fact that they're definitely a good team.

So, let's dive into it.

NOTE: Ace and Friday night starter Jake Irvin has been in the shelf due to injury and is not expected to pitch this weekend.

FRIDAY: RHP Davis Martin (4-1, 2.57 ERA) vs. RHP Dylan Grove (0-1, 3.22 ERA)

Grove has been shoved into the spotlight on Friday's with Irvin out with injury, and the righty certainly has some big shoes to fill. In 5 starts he's gone 22.1 innings, as OU has gone to the bullpen early at times with him starting. He's given up 8 runs on 20 hits, walking 19 in the process.

I think Davis Martin continues to get better and better with each start, rounding into the form he showed through much of 2016. With that, I think he bests Grove on Friday night.

Advantage: Martin

SATURDAY: LHP Steven Gingery (5-0, 1.05 ERA) vs. RHP Devon Perez (4-1, 3.67 ERA)

Perez has started just three games so far this season, being forced into the starting rotation a bit as well here. In 27 total innings, he's given up 26 hits for 11 earned runs, but he's impressively struck out 37 while walking just 4. That's as impressive a ratio as you'll find in most of college baseball.

However, Steven Gingery is arguably one of a small handful of best weekend starters in college baseball right now, and he's just getting better. He's been absolutely dominant through his first five starts, and I don't think anyone in the OU lineup has faced anyone as good as Gingery yet.

Advantage: Gingery

SUNDAY: RHP Ryan Shetter (2-0, 3.09 ERA) vs. TBD

Ah yes, good ole To Be Determined. Oklahoma has made some switches with their weekend staff over the last few weeks, and they've started both Austin Hansen and Nathan Wiles in this spot. It very well may be a Johnny Wholestaff Sunday for the Sooners here. Wiles has gone 22.1 total innings while giving up 19 hits and 4 earned runs, striking out 21 while walking only 5, and Hansen has gone 23.1 innings while allowing just 11 hits. He has, however, given up 7 earned runs while walking 14 and striking out 20.

I'd guess Wiles gets the start, as he's been better than Hansen.

For Tech, Shetter has still been battling his command a bit, as he'll have a great inning or two before having a really bad one at times. If he can finally get his delivery and command in order, he'll be fantastic. But until then, I'm going to assume that he stays inconsistent.

Advantage: Push

OF Steele Walker - The RBI power monster in the lineup for Oklahoma, Walker has plated 26 RBIs, has 8 doubles, 3 triples, and 4 dingers on the year so far. His impressive .573 slugging percentage is certainly backed up by the numbers to go along with his .336 batting average. This is the man you don't want to have up there with runners on.

1B Brylie Ware - Ware has been the best player at the plate for the Sooners this season so far, and he gets on base a whole lot. He's not a true power hitter, but he'll settle for his single, double, or walk and thank you. He's batting .373, has an OBP .470, 5 doubles, 9 walks, and has struck out only 9 times in 83 at bats. Patience.

C Renae Martinez - The catcher has been really good with the bat as well and flashes some power, knocking 5 doubles and 3 home runs so far this season. He's batting .329. slugging .506, and has impressively only struck out 5 times in 79 at bats.

RHP JB Olsen - Olson is the workhorse of the bullpen. The Sooners go to his well time and time again, and for good reason, as he's been stellar so far in his senior season. He has a 1.50 ERA in 15 appearances and 24 total innings, giving up 23 total hits but just 4 earned runs while walking only 6. Olsen has struck out 27 as well, the most of any reliever on the staff and a nice number considering he's thrown 24 innings total. Olsen will be a tough task for the Red Raiders.

RHP Connor Berry - Even better than Olsen, Berry has some innings under his belt already as well, totaling 14 in 13 appearances. He's only allowed 7 hits, 2 earned runs, walked 8, and struck out 23. That's a huge number of Ks for that many innings. Berry will be a tall order to fill for Tech's lineup late this weekend, too.

Outside of the teams Tech saw the weekend in Houston at the Shriner's College Classic, I think this is by far the most well-rounded club the Red Raiders will have seen so far this year. They can hit and hit for power, and their staff has been lights out, particularly the bullpen.

However, without ace Jake Irvin and stud hitter Austin O'Brien, and seeing as their non-conference schedule was as cupcake heavy as anyone in the Big 12, I still don't know if I'm convinced that they're in the same league as TCU or Texas Tech right now. I do think they're a really good team, but I think their numbers are a bit inflated.

That being said, I think Tech has the big advantage here with their starting pitching. Martin and Gingery will be the best one-two combo the Sooners have seen so far this season, without question.

But, at the same time, I think these lineups are very evenly matched as long as Ryan Long and Tanner Gardner are good to go, which I believe they will be.

The one advantage I give OU is in the bullpen, because they've been stellar, particularly Olsen and Berry.

The Red Raider bullpen is more talented, but they've been prone to up and down performances much more so far. That will be where this series is won or lost for Tech.

If Patterson, Mushinski, Quezada, and McMillon have good weekends, I think the Red Raiders do too. I think you'll see enough from the pen to get two wins on the road here, but it could swing the wrong way quickly if they fall apart.

TECH WINS 2-1.