Texas Tech

Its been a while since I have gotten to post, I got caught up with a little thing called school. Since I last posted, the Tigers have played very well. Although the 14 game win stream just came to an end in Minnesota, I expect it to pick up this weekend again in Lubbock, TX against the Raiders. The Raiders are 12-11 (2-4) this season. Last year the Tigers swept the season series in Columbia. The Raiders have given up 44 runs in their 4 Big 12 losses, losing 12-1 to Texas A&M and 22-6 to Texas in two of the biggest losses. 

Expected starters for the Raiders

Nathan Karns (1-2 12.10 era)

A.J. Ramos (1-2 5.93 era)

Chad Bettis (3-1 3.69)

Closer-Zach Stewart (1.06 1-o and 3 sv). He is the only person on the team with a save so it would seem fitting that he is the closer. 

Line-up

This Raiders team is not much of a power team (23 hrs, 11 of which have been hit by Roger Kieschnick). They have however hit 61 doubles but only three triples, so they donrt seem to have much speed. They are 33-41 in the stolen base department with Willie Rueda (13-14) and Tanner Rindels (8-10). Those two are their 8th and 9 hitters which seems very surprising.  Their top two guys in the line up, Chris Hall (.330 18 runs scored and 13rbis) and Joey Kenworthy (.307 27 runs scored 12rbis) have four stolen bases between them. Roger Kieschnick is tearing it up so far. He his hitting .340 with 34 rbis, 9 2b, and is even 4-4 in the stolen base department.  If the Tigers can avoid getting hurt by him, it sounds like they should be able to handle this line up.