Florida State baseball (2-1) begins conference play against Pittsburgh (3-1) tonight. Former Seminole Mike Bell brings a veteran club to Tallahassee, with all their starting position players and pitchers back from a shortened 2020 season. The Seminoles head into week two ranked in the top-40 in the nation with 22 walks, 1.33 HR/game, 8.7 runs/game, a .434 OBP, and a .479 SLG%.
Pitt has walked just three batters per nine innings through four games, good for 36th in the nation. They’ve also posted top-40 numbers with a 1.75 ERA, 11.5 K/9, and 1.08 WHIP. In the field, Pitt is averaging one error a game with a .973 FLD%. Here’s the pitching matchup for tonight’s game:
Friday 2/26, 6:00 PM
Probable Starters: RHP Mitch Myers (5.40 ERA, 5.0 IP) vs. LHP Parker Messick (19.29 ERA, 2.1 IP)
How to watch: ACC Network Extra
Parker Messick got off to a rough start in 2021. Messick gave up just one ER in 11.2 innings in 2020. The southpaw gave up five ER in 2.1 IP to start 2021. Simply put, Messick wasn’t his normal self. The second-year freshman was running high on adrenaline and struggled to keep the ball down and out of the middle third of the plate. He also struggled with the command of his slider and curveball, which let hitters do damage on his fastball. He gave up four hits, one walk, a double, and a homer. The lefty will look to settle into his role and get back to his normal self tonight. The key for Messick will be his fastball command. When he attacks with his fastball and locates, it allows him to induce soft contact with his off-speed. With six left-handed hitters in Pitt’s projected, Messick’s slider should be his #1 out-pitch.
Mitch Myers got the opening day nod for Pitt. Myers gave up three earned runs in five IP. He got hit around, allowing eight hits and three extra base hits, but also missed lots of bats. He struck out eight batters and has posted a 12.53 K/9 in his career. Myers is a 6’2 RHP from Lanette, Alabama. The junior possesses a 90-93 MPH fastball with an above-average slider. Before Pitt, Myers had a 3.29 ERA and 88 K’s in 79.1 IP in the JUCO ranks. Myers has swing-and-miss stuff that could give FSU’s right-handed hitters trouble.
UPDATE, 5:00 PM Elijah Cabell will make his season debut tonight, hitting 4th and playing left field. He missed opening weekend with a hamstring injury.
FSU’s full starting lineup:
#FSU starting lineup G1 vs. Pitt:
— Brett Nevitt (@brettpn) February 26, 2021
1B T. Martin
C M. Nelson
RF R. Martin
LF E. Cabell
CF R. Albert
DH D. Simmons
3B L. Lacey
SS N. De Sedas
2B J. Greene
SP Parker Messick
First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 PM from Dick Howser. The game will be broadcasted on ACC Network extra. We will have updates in the game thread below, and I’ll have updates on my twitter as well from the park (@brettpn).