Texas Tech comes into the weekend with a trip to Lawrence, Kansas on deck to take on the Jayhawks after a promising weekend sweep over then No. 22 West Virginia last weekend in Lubbock.
The Red Raiders currently sit at 12-9 in Big 12 play with just three conference series remaining, against Kansas, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.
Who, When, Where, How
Who: Texas Tech v. Kansas
When: Friday 6 p.m., Saturday 2 p.m., Sunday 1 p.m.
Where: Hoglund Ballpark, Lawrence, Kansas
How to Watch: ESPN+
Projected Pitching Matchups
Friday: LHP Ryan Free (5.10 ERA) v. RHP Reece Dutton (3.05 ERA)
Saturday: RHP Kyle Robinson (3.76 ERA) v. RHP Dominic Voegele (2.89 ERA)
Sunday: RHP Mac Heuer (5.27 ERA) v. RHP J'Briell Easley (3.48 ERA)
Scouting the Jayhawks' Arms
Kansas possesses a stout rotation this season, and is even missing 6-8 junior RHP Patrick Steitz, who carried a 2.18 ERA through his six starts on the season, not appearing since late March in a short outing against UCF.
Dutton is a journeyman who has found is way to power-conference baseball after stints at both Heartland Community College and USC Upstate before finding his way to Lawrence this offseason and becoming the Friday night starter.
It's been impressive to see Voegele assert himself as a true freshman for the Jayhawks. Voegele was a 20th round draft pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks out of high school last summer, but opted to join the Jayhawks, and it's evident why he's found success.
Voegele's fastball can work up to the mid-90s and his breaking ball has improved since his arrival to campus and will pose a challenge for the Red Raiders this weekend.
The Sunday starter, J'Briell Easley, is another juco guy who has found his way to Lawrence after two seasons at Crowley Community College, becoming a solid piece to the puzzle.
Easley is used mostly as an "opener" type starter for the Jayhawks, having only gone a maximum of 2.1 innings in his last three starts on Sunday for Kansas.
Beyond the starters, Kansas has a solid bullpen that the Red Raiders are sure to see a couple of this weekend with RHP Hunter Cranton leading the way.
Cranton has been in Lawrence for a bit, having faced the Red Raiders in 2023, but this season he has found the magic. Cranton leads the Jayhawks with four saves and a bullpen leading 2.30 ERA with a nice 22-7 strikeout to walk ratio.
Bats to Watch
Now, who will the Red Raiders be pitching to this weekend?
A solid group that has hit the ball well this season, led by standout second baseman who you may remember from his strong performance last year against the Red Raiders along with an invite to play for Team USA last summer, Kodey Shojinaga.
Shojinaga carries a .346 batting average into the weekend with 20 extra-base hits on the season, five of which being home runs.
The prowess of the Jayhawk lineup doesn't end there as catcher Jake English is back in the fold for Kansas, who has a team leading 12 home runs, 46 RBIs and a gaudy slugging percentage of .692.
English and Shojinaga are protected in the lineup by John Nett and Michael Brooks, who both carry OPS' over .950 into the series, seeming to prove quite the challenge for the Red Raiders in Lawrence.
