The LSU pitching rotation is searching for a southpaw.
Maryland (0-3) was unable to overcome the No. 10 Tigers’ (3-0) two dominant right arms at the front of the rotation, as sophomore Aaron Nola and junior Ryan Eades shut out the Terrapins’ bats over 13 total innings this past weekend. For senior No. 3 starter Brent Bonvillain, the story was different.
The left-hander lasted only four innings, giving up two runs — one earned — on four hits. He also hit two batters and walked another.
With this, sophomore lefty Cody Glenn will get his opportunity to make his case for a rotation spot when he starts today against Lamar (4-0).
“We’ve got a lot of good pitchers on our staff, and the good thing is that I don’t have to make that decision [about who to place in the weekend rotation],” Glenn said. “I just want to attack the zone early and get ahead in counts and go as deep in the game as [LSU] coach [Paul] Mainieri will let me go.”
Glenn has seen midweek starts before. His first career start in Alex Box took place on a Tuesday last season against Grambling, where he recorded six strikeouts in three and one-third innings of work. Lamar gave LSU a scare last season when the Tigers squeaked out a 5-4 victory in Alex Box Stadium, meaning Glenn may have a difficult challenge when he takes the mound.
Mainieri believes he has a different southpaw heading to the mound on Tuesday from the one he saw last season.
“Cody [Glenn is] a much better pitcher now, there’s no doubt about it,” Mainieri said. “Alan Dunn has done some tremendous work with him, and you can see [Glenn’s] evolution.”
Glenn will be evaluated when he takes the mound today, as Mainieri will look for certain keys as his young left-hander attempts to hold down a talented Lamar program.
“If he gives us five good innings, I’m going to be extremely happy,” Mainieri said. “We just want to see him go out there and command the zone, trust his stuff and use his movement and his off-speed pitches. He’ll give us a chance to win if he does that.”
Glenn has some added motivation against the Cardinals; the sophomore is a Texas native and is familiar with some of the Cardinals’ roster.
“It definitely makes it more fun,” Glenn said. “I know a couple of kids on the [Lamar squad], so it’ll be fun to go against them. It’s nice to be able to talk trash to them after the game if I strike them out or something.”
As for the rest of the LSU squad, the goal for today’s contest is simple.
“I think we just need to keep doing what we’re doing,” said freshman shortstop Alex Bregman. “If we just keep competing as a team, then we’ll be fine going into the Lamar game. We’re going to keep getting better every day at every asset of the game.”
“Cody [Glenn is] a much better pitcher now, there’s no doubt about it. Alan Dunn has done some tremendous work with him, and you can see [Glenn’s] evolution.”
