Despite getting swept last weekend by Wake Forest, Clemson heads into the final weekend of the regular season still in a really good spot.
The Tigers (37-13, 17-10) are currently ranked No. 7 in the RPI, but will enter the weekend having dropped three straight and four of the past six. Clemson is just 9-10 over its past 19 games.
Erik Bakich’s team was scheduled to play a midweek game on the road at Coastal Carolina on Tuesday, but that matchup was canceled due to rain.
With Boston College (22-28, 8-19) coming to town for a three-game set that begins on Thursday, that cancellation could very well be a blessing in disguise. A couple of extra days off could prove very beneficial for a pitching staff that has struggled of late.
In the past six games, Clemson has gotten just two quality starts from its starting pitchers, both coming from Ethan Darden. Tristan Smith has not gone more than 4.1 innings in each of his four starts since returning from injury and Aidan Knaak has lasted just 4.0 innings in each of his last two starts.
Walks have also been an issue, as Clemson pitchers issued 19 free passes in getting swept by the Demon Deacons. And the bullpen is allowing more than one run per inning over the last 10 games.
“You have to look at are we throwing strikes,” Bakich told The Clemson Insider on Sunday. “It starts with that, strike percentage. We have too many free passes. You can live with a team earning their way on and getting hits. You don’t want to see pitches thrown down the middle, but you would rather see pitches thrown down the middle than walks. Right now we’re giving too many free passes, combined with when we do make a mistake over the middle against a team like this, they hit it out. We’ve got to find some answers.”
With the Tigers getting so few quality starts over the past two weeks, a bullpen that was already struggling of late, is being relied on even more heavily.
Playing a midweek game on the road, would have likely even taxed that bullpen a little more. A couple of extra days off could wind up proving beneficial for some of the pitchers in the bullpen.
While the Tigers are all but assured to host a regional, they are also fighting for one of those top eight seeds, which would mean home-field advantage through the super regionals, should Clemson make it that far.
Seeding in the ACC Tournament next week in Charlotte is also on the line. Clemson is 1.5 games up on Florida State and NC State for the second seed, with Virginia, Duke and Wake Forest each a full two games back.
Game one of the final regular season series against Boston College will begin on Thursday, with first pitch set for 6 p.m.
A limited number of signed footballs from Clemson’s 2022 class are still available. Get yours while supplies last! Visit Clemson Variety & Frame or purchase online!
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