EUGENE, OR - Following a disappointing weekend in Eugene and a loss in a one-game bout versus the in-state rival Oregon State Beavers, the #25 Oregon Ducks (26-14) baseball team will stay at home for a three game matchup against the California Golden Bears (20-20).
Oregon is looking to gain momentum in this series against an unranked Cal team that has struggled with consistency throughout the season. While the Bears have multiple quality wins, including games against #17 TCU, #10 Florida State, and #6 Oregon State, they also have subpar losses to the likes of University of Illinois-Chicago and Santa Clara University. After dropping over ten spots in the polls, Oregon will need a big weekend in order to keep momentum before the full weekend versus the Beavers
Potential Starting Pitchers – Oregon
Game One: RJ Gordon
RJ Gordon really struggled in Game 1 against the Wildcats last weekend, surrendering 6 earned runs in under four innings. However, this seems to be the outlier for Gordon who can usually be penciled in to keep his team in a position to win. While never dominant, the sophomore frequently finishes over five innings of work while giving up three to four earned runs. With the offense that the Ducks have displayed throughout the season, performances like that have been more than enough to win and also spell deep bullpen work.
Game Two: Isaac Ayon
The story of Isaac Ayon is a confusing one. Someone who shows signs of dominance, often masterfully executing his pitch sequencing through the early parts of the lineup, only to see it fall once the bats come around a second or third time. Ayon has such phenomenal projectability as a starter in the long-term,
Game Three: Jace Stoffal
Stoffal missed the first seven weeks of the season with an injury but has stepped into a starting role since making his return. Stoffal will be making his third start of the season in what will be more of a bullpen game for the Ducks. Against Washington, Stoffal pitched three innings while giving up two hits and one run.
Potential Starting Pitchers – California
Game One: Ian May
Similar to the Ducks, Cal goes with somewhat of a bullpen strategy in their Friday contests. Ian May, a freshman, began the year going deeper into games but has recently seen his outings get shorter and shorter as he deals with inconsistency. He often gets replaced by Steven Zobac, a two-way player from San Jose, California. On the season, May sports a 6.25 ERA and a 1-1 record.
Game Two: Joseph King
Joseph King is a really solid Saturday starter for the Golden Bears. He had his first two seasons cut short due to the pandemic and an injury, but has been the one starter to start all ten of his rotation turns for the Bears this season. In those starts, he is 3-2 with a 3.29 ERA in 52 innings pitched. However, his main skill is keeping unnecessary batters off the paths, as he has walked only seven batters in his 52 frames, with a phenomenal 6.3/1 K/BB ratio.
Game Three: Sam Stoutenborough
Game three is a difficult prediction for the Golden Bears, as they often tend to use an opener followed by a bulk innings pitcher, so I’m going to include the guy that will give them innings. Stoutenborough has only started five games, but he has over 40 innings pitched in just 12 appearances. On the season, he is 2-2 with a 4.69 ERA and tends to give Cal some of their most consistent innings.
Projected Starting Lineup – Oregon
1. LF Tanner Smith
2. 3B Drew Cowley
3. DH Brennan Milone
4. 1B Jacob Walsh
5. SS Josh Kasevich
6. RF Anthony Hall
7. C Jack Scanlon
8. CF Colby Shade
9. 2B Gavin Grant
Projected Starting Lineup – Washington State
1. 1B Nathan Martorella
2. RF Dylan Beavers
3. 2B Hance Smith
4. DH Caleb Lomavita
5. C Cole Elvis
6. LF Trevor Tishenkel
7. SS Keshawn Ogans
8. CF Nathan Manning
9. 3B Dom Souto
Oregon’s Keys to Victory
- Get the bats back on track
- At least five innings from Gordon and Ayon
- Help Smith and Walsh find their swing
- Keep the bullpen rested and strong
Final Thoughts
Oregon should take this series pretty easily, but they also can’t look at it as a throw-away series (see: Washington State last weekend). Cal is a team that has a lot on the line, with a Pac-12 tournament berth looming, but Oregon is the better overall team.
Series Prediction
Oregon sweeps California