ASU Baseball: Who Should be the Game 3 Starter?

ASU Baseball is in a confusing situation. Sundays (or Saturdays) are a problem for the Devils as they can’t seem to find someone to hold down the number three spot in the rotation.

Anybody who has watched an ASU Baseball game this season knows just about how the weekends go. Eli Lingos works his magic and gets himself a quality start on Fridays, gives the Devils a good chance to win. Spencer Van Scoyoc throws on Saturday and strikes out six or so batters and shows he has the stuff to be a solid starter in the Pac-12, but he walks four people every time out and can’t get through the 5^th inning putting more work on the already taxed bullpen. Then Sunday comes around, and oh boy what a mystery. It’s like an episode of “Scooby Doo” but the gang can’t seem to solve the mystery of the missing pitcher.

The Sun Devils have already tried five different starters to find a number three pitcher. Ryan Hingst originally owned the position but lost it due to a walk problem. Zach Dixon then got a few tries and he’s 0-1 with just 4.2 IP in just two appearances. Jake Godfrey got a start against #1 TCU and that ended quickly in giving up four runs in just three innings. The big man Fitz Stadler started a midweek game against New Mexico State and was only able to go 3.2 innings. Then the expected closer Eder Erives started yesterday and threw well coming off an injury in extended work but walked four in 4.2 innings in the 4-0 loss to Oregon State.

All those names are viable options for Head Coach Tracy Smith who has still openly admitted not even he knows who’s going to throw on Sundays. Stadler has shown he can be solid and chew through some innings. If Hingst can solve his walk problem he’s already an established starter and can be solid at the back end of the rotation. But I have a few names that should be given a chance to perform.

Reagan Todd: Todd is the number one option in my eyes. He’s had a very impressive start to the season and he’s a strikeout pitcher. He has a 3 to 1 strikeout to walk ratio (15 K: 5 BB) and he has shown the ability to go multiple innings and not give anything up as shown in the opening series against Northwestern where he went 4.1 innings giving up just two hits and striking out five in his two appearances. He started six games last season and went 1-4 with a 6.64 ERA, but he looks like a new pitcher this season. Seeing as he hasn’t started yet this season makes me believe that he is more comfortable coming out of the bullpen and that’s where the coaching staff likes him. At this point, as the season gets into Pac-12 play, he might have to be that option to throw on Sundays because every win matters once the season gets going.

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You: If you’re reading you could probably go out and have a chance at the final rotation spot. Smith did say he’s been open to just about anything. Just make sure you have some eligibility so the NCAA doesn’t freak out too much.

Fitz Stadler: Back to the realm of seriousness. Stadler was named earlier and he’s already had a start this season that didn’t go entirely to plan as Cal State Fullerton rocked him for seven runs in just two innings. Stadler is a power pitcher, he’s 6’9 and has 7 strikeouts compared to just one walk on the season. If he can keep his pitch location solid and mix pitches, he can easily be a solid starting pitcher as long as his arm will stay strong enough to go multiple innings.

The Devils are in an odd predicament and can’t seem to get their way out of it. Coach Smith has proven he will throw anybody out there to try and find an answer and it just hasn’t shown itself yet. Maybe giving Todd a chance, or giving another guy another opportunity will spark something. All it takes is one good start to get the momentum going for a guy.

Next: ASU Baseball Gets Swept by No. 2 Oregon State

We’ll all see who jogs out to the mound next Sunday as ASU takes on USC in Los Angeles in the second Pac-12 weekend of the season.

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