The Aggies look to close the regular season strong and improve their postseason standing
After last week’s massive bounce-back series win over #2 LSU, Texas A&M hopes to close out the regular season strong. The series win makes a third series victory this season over teams that were ranked in the top three at the time (#1 Tennessee, #2 Arkansas, and #2 LSU). With how the Aggies have progressed this season, it feels like Texas A&M is back in the postseason, even with how disastrous their start to the year was.
Now, the Aggies host Missouri. The Tigers come in last in the SEC and have yet to win a single conference contest, with a 13-35 record on the season. With just two conference series before the postseason begins, Mizzou represents a chance for Texas A&M to gather more momentum. Let’s dive into it.
Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images
With a 0-24 conference record, it is no surprise that the Missouri bats haven’t been the best in the SEC this year. Jackson Lovich represents the biggest threat in the Tiger lineup, batting .340 on the season with nine home runs. Over the course of the season, Mizzou has reached double-digit runs just once. Back in March, the Tigers put up 10 in a losing effort to Ole Miss.
The starting trio of Prager, Lamkin, and Patton ought to be able to handle this lineup. For this series, I’m focused on the bullpen continuing to take steps forward.
Photo by Kate Woolson/Texas Rangers/Getty Images
At the plate, Texas A&M needs to get the bats hot again. Caden Sorrell has been a force since returning, but surprisingly, it’s been Ben Royo who has shone along with Sorrell in recent weeks. Jace LaViolette hasn’t been as much of a force at the plate as expected this season, but still leads the Aggies with 15 home runs in 2025. Mizzou represents a perfect opportunity to recapture some of the magic from last season.
Even more than the bats, Missouri has struggled on the mound. Among the expected starters this weekend, projected Sunday starter Will Libbert has the best ERA at 6.33. Projected Friday starter Brady Kehlenbrink has an 8.58 ERA, while Saturday’s projected starter Sam Horn has a 9.00 ERA.
In short, the level of pitching Texas A&M faces this weekend isn’t quite the same as the past two weekends against Texas and LSU.
The Aggies don’t just expect to win the series against Mizzou this weekend, they expect to dominate and sweep. Texas A&M needs to live up that expectation to continue to raise their positioning heading into the home season, if they execute at the level they have in most of their recent SEC series, I expect the sweep to happen.
Probable Starters
- Friday: LHP Ryan Prager (3-3, 3.76 ERA, 69.1 IP, 59 K, 18 BB) vs. LHP Brady Kehlenbrink (0-4, 8.58 ERA, 28.1 IP, 34 K, 17 BB)
- Saturday: LHP Justin Lamkin (3-6, 3.88 ERA, 67.1 IP, 75 K, 15 BB) vs. RHP Sam Horn (0-1, 9.00 ERA, 5.0 IP, 7 K, 2 BB)
- Sunday: LHP Myles Patton (3-3, 4.95 ERA, 63.2 IP, 70 K, 14 BB) vs. LHP Will Libbert (2-3, 6.33 ERA, 42.2 IP, 47 K, 27 BB)
How to Watch
- 6:00 p.m. Friday on SECN+
- 2:00 p.m. Saturday on SECN+
- 1:00 p.m. Sunday on SECN+