Vanderbilt Commodores

Pitching Breakdown: Crimson Tide Not Starting Ace Pitcher First

Vanderbilt and Alabama begin their top 20 ranked SEC series Friday night. Check out our complete pitching preview including starting rotations and injury news.
Taylor Hodges|
Vanderbilt pitcher Sawyer Hawks (88) celebrates with teammates after the team’s 5-2 win against Georgia in a NCAA college baseball game at Hawkins Field Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn.
Vanderbilt pitcher Sawyer Hawks (88) celebrates with teammates after the team’s 5-2 win against Georgia in a NCAA college baseball game at Hawkins Field Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. | Mark Zaleski / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

There weren’t any surprises when No. 15 Vanderbilt announced its starting pitchers for this weekend’s series against No. 18 Alabama, who did have a surprise of its own.

The Crimson Tide (35-10, 12-9 SEC) won’t start its ace pitcher in Friday’s game. Instead, Tyler Fay will start on the mound against Vanderbilt ace JD Thompson and Riley Quick will start Saturday’s game.

It’s an interesting strategy and one that worked wonderfully for Oklahoma. The Sooners, though, had to do it because of minor injury to its ace. Alabama didn’t have any players listed on its initial Student-Athlete Availability Report, so this would appear to be a strategic choice by the Tide.

Vanderbilt did have a pair of pitchers on its initial report, including Sawyer Hawks as questionable. He missed last weekend’s series against Ole Miss for a funeral. If Hawks is available to play, he only makes the Commodores’ pitching staff much better (leads team in saves).

Here’s our complete pitching matchup preview for this weekend’s series between Alabama and Vanderbilt:

No. 18 Alabama at No. 15 Vanderbilt Pitching Staff Rankings

No. 18 Alabama

CATEGORY

No. 15 Vanderbilt

4.58 (40)

Team ERA

3.74 (11)

8.56 (53)

H/9

7.05 (3)

9.5 (40)

K/9

12.1 (1)

3.93 (58)

BB/9

3.76 (44)

2.41 (46)

Strikeout-to-Walk Ratio

3.23 (5)

1.39 (50)

WHIP

1.20 (7)

No. 18 Alabama at No. 15 Vanderbilt Starting Pitchers

Game One

RHP Tyler Fay (0-0, 4.50 ERA, 30 IP, 22 SO, 7 BB, 15 ER, .281 b/avg.) vs. LHP JD Thompson (3-4, 4.42 ERA, 59 IP, 77 SO, 19 BB, 29 ER, .241 b/avg.)

Game Two

RHP Riley Quick (6-2, 3.54 ERA, 40.2 IP, 41 SO, 15 BB, 16 ER, .247 b/avg.) vs. RHP Cody Bowker (2-3, 4.50 ERA, 50 IP, 67 SO, 22 BB, 25 ER, .217 b/avg.)

Game Three

LHP Zane Adams (6-2, 5.08 ERA, 51.1 IP, 46 SO, 18 BB, 29 ER, .280 b/avg.) vs. RHP Connor Fennell (5-0, 2.38 ERA, 34 IP, 63 SO, 6 BB, 9 ER, .172 b/avg.)

Notable Bullpen Pitchers

Alabama

RHP Braylon Myers (2-1, 2.59 ERA, 31.1 IP, 43 SO, 11 BB, 9 ER, .170 b/avg.)
RHP Bobby Alcock (3-2, 5.67 ERA, 33.1 IP, 36 SO, 16 BB, 21 ER, .279 b/avg.)
RHP Carson Ozmer (4-0, 13 SV, 1.24 ERA, 29 IP, 39 SO, 16 BB, 4 ER, .153 b/avg.)
LHP Matthew Heiberger (3-1, 3.28 ERA, 24.2 IP, 24 SO, 12 BB, 9 ER, .230 b/avg.)

Vanderbilt

RHP Sawyer Hawks (3-0, 6 SV, 1.34 ERA, 33.2 IP, 6 SO, 7 BB, 5 ER, .152 b/avg.)
LHP Miller Green (1-2, 5 SV, 4.00 ERA, 18 IP, 23 SO, 7 BB, 8 ER, .239 b/avg.)
RHP Brennan Seiber (1-1, 2.66 ERA, 20.1 IP, 27 SO, 12 BB, 6 ER, .169 b/avg.)
RHP Alex Kranzler (6-1, 3 SV, 3.38 ERA, 29.1 IP, 31 SO, 6 BB, 11 ER, .225 b/avg.)

Vanderbilt Commodores On SI:

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Taylor Hodges
TAYLOR HODGES

Award-winning sports editor, writer, columnist, and photographer with 15 years’ experience offering his opinion and insight about the sports world in Mississippi and Texas, but he was taken to Razorback pep rallies at Billy Bob's Texas in Fort Worth before he could walk. Taylor has covered all levels of sports, from small high schools in the Mississippi Delta to NFL games. Follow Taylor on Twitter and Facebook.

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