Game 1 in a best-of-three series is obviously pivotal. Vanderbilt’s 5-1 win over UVA in the College World Series Monday night is even more so for the Commodores.
Virginia’s options on the mound for Game 2 and an if necessary Game 3 are limited. Nathan Kirby seems likely to get the ball to start Game 2, in what would be his second appearance since going down on April 17 with a lat injury.
Kirby (5-3) took the loss on Friday against Florida, giving up three runs on four hits in two and two-thirds innings, throwing 53 pitches.
UVA coach Brian O’Connor would be bringing back Kirby, a supplemental first-round pick in the 2015 MLB Draft, on three days rest from that effort. At best you get another 50-60 pitches out of Kirby, maybe three, maybe four innings, and then hope you can hand the ball to Josh Sborz.
Sborz, a second-round draft pick, went 54 pitches in four tense innings on Saturday, so he’d be coming back on two days rest. The righty hasn’t given up an earned run in nine innings in the 2015 postseason, but he’d likely have to go at least five to close out Game 2.
Which gets us to a possible Game 3. If the game plan for Game 2 works to get us there, Virginia has Brandon Waddell on three days rest after his five-plus inning, 87-pitch effort on Saturday against Florida.
Maybe Waddell gives you 60-70 pitches, four, maybe five innings. Then it’s anybody’s guess how Virginia finishes it out.
Vandy, meanwhile, has Philip Pfeifer set for Game 2 and first-round draft pick Walker Buehler ready for Game 3.
UVA desperately needed a Game 1 win to have a fighting chance to win the series.
The mountain to get two wins with what’s left is going to be a tough one to climb.
– Column by Chris Graham
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