What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but what about what happens in Phoenix Municipal Stadium? The Sun Devils are going to find out Tuesday night when the Runnin' Rebels come to town for an island game in the desert.
Arizona State is coming off a day of rest following their first series loss of the new year, one that saw them blow a late lead in consecutive games and very nearly do it a third time on Sunday. They only have one more non-conference series before Big 12 play starts - a weekend tilt with Gonzaga - but first they host UNLV.
The Rebels come into this match with an 8-4 record, identical to Arizona State. However, they've faced an absolute gauntlet to start the year, with seven games against teams that were ranked in the Top 25 at the time.
Their season opener came against No. 25 Indiana, and UNLV earned a narrow 4-2 victory. Then they ran up against No. 7 Oregon State, who blasted the Rebels 16-0 in just seven innings. A surprise loss to Xavier saw a rematch against No. 25 Indiana, with UNLV winning 13-12 in extra innings.
Up next was a four-game series against Cincinnati, who had just made their first foray into the rankings, displacing Indiana at No. 25. UNLV would end up splitting the series, winning the second and fourth game by one run each. They're coming into tonight's game after sweeping Milwaukee in another four-game series.
What's intriguing about this team, though, is how they've reached 8-4. The Runnin' Rebels rank well below Arizona State in both batting average and team ERA, but they have proven capable of winning in a myriad of ways.
Four of their wins have seen them score nine or more runs, while three wins have seen them give up three or fewer runs on defense. Additionally, six of their wins have been decided by two runs or less, showing an innate ability to gut out a victory no matter how the game unfolds.
The Sun Devils, on the other hand, have shown an innate ability to lose any game. All four of their losses saw Arizona State with a lead going into the seventh inning, at least, before giving it up in short order. The bullpen has continued to be an issue for this team, but UNLV offers a chance to get things right for at least one game.
How to watch Arizona State vs UNLV
The Sun Devils and Runnin' Rebels will throw out the first pitch at 6:30 PM MST at Phoenix Municipal Stadium in Phoenix, Arizona.
The game will air on ESPN+ (subscription required). Nate Mill will be on air for play-by-play with Noah Chavez providing color commentary.
Betting information
Arizona State enters this game as a 2.5-run favorite, according to DraftKings sportsbook.
The Sun Devils are -270 on the moneyline, while the Runnin' Rebels are +200.
The over/under on total runs is 14.5.