| Probable Starting Pitchers |
| Day |
Illinois |
Rutgers |
| Fri. 6 p.m. CT |
LHP Andy Fisher (3-0, 3.68) |
RHP John O'Reilly (4-1, 4.04) |
| Sat. 3 p.m. CT |
RHP Quinn Snarskis (3-1, 4.37) |
LHP Harry Rutkowski (4-1, 3.42) |
| Sun. 1 p.m. CT |
RHP Ty Weber (3-1, 2.81) |
LHP Eric Reardon (1-1, 2.65) |
PREVIEW
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois and Rutgers, two teams tied for third place in the Big Ten standings, meet this weekend for three games at Illinois Field. It will be games 2-4 of a nine-game homestand for the Illini.
Illinois (20-8, 6-3 Big Ten) is coming of a 2-1 series win at Maryland last weekend and a midweek win over Illinois State that bumped the Illini's RPI to No. 29. The Illini are behind Michigan (19-11, 6-0 Big Ten), which has won 15 straight games, and Minnesota (21-10, 5-1 Big Ten) in the Big Ten standings through three weekends of Big Ten play.
Bren Spillane, the only Big Ten player named to the Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List, leads the Illini. Spillane has been slowed in the last week but still leads the nation in slugging (1.040), OPS (1.582) and total bases (104) and ranks second in batting average (.455) and third in home runs (14).
Rutgers (18-11, 4-2 Big Ten) is seven games over .500 after finishing under the .500 mark for the last three seasons. The Scarlet Knights have won two of three against Penn State and Michigan State the last two weekends to get within one game of matching their win total from 2017.
Rutgers has not hit for much power with only eight homers as a team, but the Scarlet Knights are batting .279 and scoring nearly the same amount of runs per game (6.48) as Illinois (6.68).
All three games will be broadcast on BTN2Go. Dave Loane will have the radio call for all three on the Fighting Illini Sports Network and WDWS 1400-AM.
PROMOTIONS
• Friday 6 p.m. CT » Freaky Friday, card set #2 (125), mini lucky charm cereal boxes (150), postgame autographs
• Saturday 3 p.m. CT » Moms' Day, card set #2 (125), roses (200 for moms only), postgame run the bases
• Sunday 1 p.m. CT » Camper Reunion / Super Hero Day, super hero masks (150), bracelets (200), postgame whiffle ball
NOTES
• Illinois is 5-2 all-time against Rutgers.
• Illinois dropped two of three at Rutgers in 2017.
• Illinois has won 19 of its last 24 games.
• Illinois is No. 29 in the RPI as of Thursday morning.
• Illinois is ranked No. 18 by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.
• Illinois is 15-1 when leading after four innings.
• Illinois is 15-3 when scoring first.
• Illinois is 16-2 when scoring five or more runs.
• Illinois is 20-4 when scoring three or more runs.
• Illinois is 13-1 when outhitting opponents and 7-7 when being outhit.
• Illinois leads the Big Ten home runs (33), four more than second place Indiana (29).
• Illinois had 10 fewer errors than any other BIg Ten team entering the week (Illinois 19, Minnesota 29). Illinois' 19 errors are tied for the third-fewest in the nation behind Yale (13) and USC (18).
• Illinois was eighth in the nation in fielding percentage (.983) entering the weekend.
• Illinois was 14th in the nation in doubles per game (2.29) entering the weekend.
• Ben Troike has reached base in all 28 games this season. His current reached base streak is 33 dating back to the final five games of last season, the fourth longest active streak in the nation.
• Bren Spillane ranks among the NCAA leaders in nearly every major category: 1st slugging (1.010), 1st OPS (1.582), t-3rd HRs (14), 2nd batting average (.447), 5th OBP (.532), t-13th doubles (14), t-13th RBIs (40)
• Bren Spillane entered the week as the Big Ten leader in batting average, slugging, OBP, OPS, homers and total bases. He ranks second in RBIs, t-2nd in steals, third in runs and fifth in hits.
• Bren Spillane was named Perfect Game/Rawlings and D1Baseball Midseason National Player of the Year.
• Bren Spillane is the only Big Ten Player on the Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List.
• Bren Spillane is one home run away from joining Illinois' single-season top-10 list. He already has 104 total bases, 35 away from Illinois' single-season top-10 list.
• Bren Spillane has as many or more homers (14) than half the other Big Ten teams (6 of 12), including six more than Rutgers.
• Ryan Thompson is t-8th in the nation in wins (6-2).
• Joey Gerber, who has been up to 97 MPH, is t-6th in the nation and tied for the Big Ten lead with nine saves. His nine saves ranks t-5th most in an Illinois single season, five away from Tyler Jay's record of 14.
UP NEXT
Illinois welcomes Valparaiso (Tuesday) and Grand Canyon (Friday-Sunday) to Illinois Field next week.
