Top 10 SEC starting Pitchers heading into conference play

Anthony Ranaudo
@anthony_ranaudo

My SEC Starting Pitcher Rankings heading into SEC play:

1. Ruger Riojas, Texas
2. Cam Johnson, Oklahoma
3. LJ Mercurius, Oklahoma
4. Jake Marciano, Auburn
5. Ryan McPherson, Miss St
6. Hunter Dietz, Arkansas
7. William Schmidt, LSU
8. Cade Townsend, Ole Miss
9. Tegan Kuhns, Tennessee
10. Jaxon Jelkin, Kentucky

Check out my full rankings 1-47 with breakdowns and scouting reports.

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His comments on OU pitchers

2. Cam Johnson — Oklahoma

3-0, 2.11 ERA 21.1IP 32K 5BB

Johnson jumps to No. 2 after another dominant outing. He went 5.1 innings, allowing two hits and one unearned run with seven strikeouts, bringing his season totals to 32 strikeouts and five walks in 21.1 innings.

I already wrote extensively about Johnson in my Friday Night Sh*t breakdown with Riojas, but the short version is simple: he looks like a true ace. His size, delivery, and ability to repeat mechanics give him the profile of someone who could be a frontline starter.

3. LJ Mercurius — Oklahoma

4-0, 0.39 ERA 23.1IP 34K 6BB

Mercurius continues to post absurd numbers. He threw six shutout innings, allowing four hits with six strikeouts and no walks.

That brings him to 34 strikeouts and just six walks in 23 innings, with a microscopic ERA heading into SEC play. Oklahoma having both Mercurius and Johnson at the top of a rotation makes them extremely dangerous.