Vanderbilt Starting Pitchers Announced for Final SEC Series Against Kentucky

For the first time in a while, Austin Nye's Tuesday night didn't involve stepping on a pitching mound and trying to give the Commodores a midweek win.

This past week was the first time this season Vanderbilt didn't have a midweek game. For Nye, who has started every midweek contest for the Commodores this season, it means he gets an extended period of rest. The last time he pitched was against then-No. 20 Louisville and he pitched five innings (75 total pitches) and allowed two runs on two hits and two walks while striking out five batters.

For the season, Nye has been stellar in his role as the Commodores' midweek game starter. Vanderbilt has lost just one midweek game (12 games started) all season and Nye has posted a 2-0, 2.03 ERA record with 51 strikeouts, 18 walks and 10 earned runs allowed. That's a stat line that rivals most of the other Vanderbilt pitchers.

And now we'll get to see how the freshman performs against an SEC team.

Vanderbilt will change up its weekend starting pitcher rotation. Nye will start Thursday's game against Kentucky followed by JD Thompson and Cody Bowker in the second and third games. Connor Fennell isn't slated to start this weekend, but was the most recent Commodore pitcher to start a game last Sunday.

Here are the starting pitching matchups for Vanderbilt's final SEC series against Kentucky, as well as each team's best bullpen options:

Kentucky at No. 9 Vanderbilt Starting Pitchers

Game One

TBA vs. RHP Austin Nye (2-0, 2.03 ERA, 44.1 IP, 51 SO, 18 BB, 10 ER, .205 b/avg.)

Game Two