OT: Kentucky @ LSU

[Versus75]

The Wildcats were on the road against the #1 ranked team and perhaps the top NCAA pitcher (Paul Skenes).

So, do they throw their best pitcher versus LSU, hoping to pull an upset? No, the Cats start a guy who had pitched only 9 1/3 innings all season. Of course, he was raked over the coals and allowed 11 runs in less than two innings.

Meanwhile, Skenes strikes out 13 but allows 5 runs (4 earned) in six innings. Kentucky might have won that game with a better starting pitcher. Their top 3 starters have ERAs of 3.31, 3.65 and 4.33.

[commadore]

A lot of mid tier teams in the sec have begun to save their top guy for Saturday or Sunday when they think they can have a better chance. Move the best guy to Saturday, Saturday guy to Sunday, and Sunday guy to Friday.
I have seen high school teams do that on tennis and, while technically it is cheating, it often works. Move #5 to #1 and ##1-4 down a spot.

[PeteFox]

Explain how this is cheating, even technically.
Can teams not use any pitcher they wish? Is it different in tennis?
Who decides who the #1, #2, etc players are?

[VirginiaDore]

We used to do that in IM tennis and ping pong more than 50 years ago—definitely not a new idea. Was referred to as “stacking” as I recall.