Paul Skenes Named LSU's Starting Pitcher Against Tulane

Tigers going with their ace for Game 1 of the Baton Rouge Regional.

SEC Pitcher of the Year Paul Skenes will start for LSU during their Game 1 matchup against the Tulane Green Wave. 

It's clear the message Jay Johnson is relaying with the decision to start Skenes: win the game directly in front of them.

The length Skenes remains in the game will be interesting to monitor, but for now, the National Player of the Year will be on the mound for the Tigers in their Friday afternoon showdown against the Green Wave.

Let’s Ride pic.twitter.com/bOMcJBZ9Fp

— LSU Baseball (@LSUbaseball) June 2, 2023

Notes on Skenes:

• LSU right-hander Paul Skenes is No. 1 in the nation in strikeouts (167), strikeouts per nine innings (16.64); and WHIP (0.79) … Skenes is No. 3 in strikeout-to-walk ratio (9.82), No. 4 in ERA (1.89) and No. 6 in hits allowed per nine innings (5.38) … LSU second baseman Gavin Dugas is No. 4 in the nation in hit-by-pitch (26).

• Paul Skenes was named the 2023 National Player of the Year on Thursday by Collegiate Baseball newspaper, and Skenes, Dylan Crews and Tommy White were each named to Collegiate Baseball’s 2023 First-Team All-America squad.