Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

Arkansas didn’t get the sort of outing it would have expected from DJ Baxendale in his last start. He actually endured the worst outing of his career with the Razorbacks at Mississippi State.

But Baxendale, considered the staff ace entering the season, will be back in the role of Friday night starter when the No. 3 Razorbacks visit No. 15 LSU. Coach Dave Van Horn said he is still confident in Baxendale.

“My mindset with him is that he’s ready to get the ball on Friday and turn it around,” Van Horn said. “Everybody gets knocked down. It just happens. … I think DJ is ready to pitch.”

So what was the issue for Baxendale last week? What led to him to give up eight runs on nine hits against the Bulldogs?

Van Horn ruled out a medical issue. Baxendale did struggle with his mechanics and as the bad pitches and hits added up, the issue might have become mental, Van Horn explained.

“His arm slot got a little low and his ball really flattened out,” Van Horn said.

Arkansas hopes to get three to four good innings from Baxendale against LSU, then turn to its bullpen to close out the game.

There have been no such struggles for Saturday starter Ryne Stanek. He’s 6-0 with a 1.25 earned run average entering the weekend series.

“Stanek has been, he’s been great,” Van Horn said. “He’s confident.”

Van Horn has left the Sunday starter to be determined. Randal Fant has struggled in that role and it’s possible either Cade Lynch (0-0, 1.17 ERA) or Brandon Moore (2-0, 0.76 ERA) might get a look. Nolan Sanburn (2-1, 2.63 ERA) is also a possibility.