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Ethan Small Is the Right Choice For Mississippi State Baseball In Game One

By Ethan Lee

OMAHA, NE - JUNE 24: Mississippi State Bulldogs players sit in the dugout before playing the UCLA Bruins during game one of the College World Series Finals on June 24, 2013 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska. UCLA won 3-1. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
OMAHA, NE - JUNE 24: Mississippi State Bulldogs players sit in the dugout before playing the UCLA Bruins during game one of the College World Series Finals on June 24, 2013 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska. UCLA won 3-1. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /
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The Mississippi State baseball team can make a statement against Vanderbilt with Ethan Small on the mound in game one

For the first time in quite a while, Konnor Pilkington will not be the Friday starter for the Mississippi State baseball team.

Pilkington, throughout his career, has been incredibly good for the Mississippi State baseball team. Even through the first half of this season, at a time when the Bulldogs were struggling, Pilkington remained constant and gave the Bulldogs a chance in each game he played in.

In Pilkington’s first eight starts this season, he was clearly one of the best pitchers in the SEC. He had a 2.61 ERA, an average of 7.6 strikeouts per game, and three games where he threw for at least 7.0 innings. Pilkington only had one game where he threw for fewer than 5.0 innings. Despite all of that, MSU never gave him much run support and he held a 2-4 win-loss record.

Right now, Pilkington’s ERA is up to 4.61. In the second half of the season, Pilkington struggled quite a bit. In his last eight starts, Pilkington is averaging 4.5 strikeouts per game and has only gone for at least 7.0 innings twice. He’s had four games where he threw for fewer than 5.0 innings. His record right now? That’s sitting at 2-6.

Once the Mississippi State baseball team turned things around, Pilkington seemingly fell apart. And it doesn’t make much sense. He can still be a good starter, his body of work is extensive and he’s been solid for the vast majority of his career.

However, Pilkington doesn’t give MSU the best possible chance in game one of the Nashville Super Regional.

Ethan Small earned his start against Vanderbilt in the first game in Nashville

Ethan Small has been more than just a pleasant surprise for the Mississippi State baseball team this season. In 2018, Small is arguably the best starting pitcher in MSU’s rotation and arguably the best pitcher on the Bulldogs’ roster.

Small has an ERA of 2.94, a win-loss record of 5-3, and a total of 107 strikeouts this season. That’s an average of 7.1 strikeouts per game throughout the entire season. Small has been consistent throughout the entire year and currently is on a bit of a hot streak.

In Small’s first eight starts this year, he compiled an even 3.00 ERA. In that time, Small struck out 7.8 opposing batters per game. He only had two games where he threw for fewer than 5.0 innings in a game.

Through the last seven starts from Ethan Small for Mississippi State baseball, Small has remained consistent.

As was mentioned earlier, Small’s ERA is down to 2.94. In the second half of the season, Small struck out 6.4 batters per game and only had one game where he threw for fewer than 5.0 innings.

Next: Can MSU Win The Nashville Super Regional?

Gary Henderson and the Mississippi State baseball team are in a pretty good position right now. To be able to pick between these two pitchers for the first start of this series is a good problem to have. But, right now, Small is proving himself to be the better pitcher. Henderson is using that to his advantage.

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