| Probable Starting Pitchers |
| Day |
Illinois |
Bradley |
| Tue. 6 p.m. CT |
RHP Cyrillo Watson (0-1, 5.91) |
RHP Mitch Janssen (3-0, 4.98) |
PREVIEW
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The Illinois baseball team hosts Bradley in the final game of a nine-game homestand Tuesday at Illinois Field. The Illini are looking to rebound after a 1-3 week before heading to No. 15 Indiana over the weekend.
The game is scheduled to be the only meeting between Illinois and Bradley this season. The two teams were postponed March 27 in Peoria and no makeup date has been set.
Illinois (24-11) is beginning a crucial portion to its schedule, facing three of the top five teams in the Big Ten over the next three weekends (at Indiana, Ohio State, at Michigan). The Illini currently sit in third place of the Big Ten at 9-3 in conference play and No. 58 in the RPI.
Bradley (23-9) has won six straight games and is 10-2 in April. The Braves are ninth in the nation in batting average (.308), fifth in on-base percentage (.411) and seventh in scoring (7.8) and enter Tuesday with a top 75 RPI.
The game will be broadcast on BTN2Go. Dave Loane will have the radio call on the Fighting Illini Sports Network and WDWS 1400-AM.Â
PROMOTIONS
Tuesday 6 p.m. CT » 90s Night, baseball koozie giveaway (150, students only)
NOTES
• Illinois is 42-21-1 all-time against Bradley, including 26-11-1 in Champaign.
• Illinois and Bradley split home-and-home games in 2017.
• Illinois is 5-3 against Bradley since 2009.
• Illinois dropped to No. 58 in the RPI from No. 27 last week after going 1-3.
• Illinois is 12th in the nation in fielding percentage (.981). Michigan set the Big Ten fielding percentage record of .983 last season.
• Illinois has 10 fewer errors than any other Big Ten team (Illinois 26, Minnesota 36).
• Illinois is 22nd in the nation in doubles per game (2.14) and 16th in home runs per game (1.17)
• Illinois leads the Big Ten in home runs (41), two ahead of Indian (39).
• Illinois is 23rd in the nation in slugging percentage (.456).
• Illinois is 18-1 when leading after four innings and 15-1 when leading after three.
• Illinois is 18-4 when scoring first.
• Illinois is 8-1 in one-run games.
• Illinois is 18-3 when scoring five or more runs and 23-6 when scoring three or more runs.
• Illinois is 16-2 when outhitting opponents and 8-9 when being outhit.
• Ben Troike has reached base in all 35 games this season. His current reached base streak is 40 dating back to the final five games of last season, the longest active streak in the Big Ten.
• Bren Spillane's 16 home runs are tied for the most by any Illini outside of the 1990s.
• Bren Spillane ranks among the NCAA leaders in nearly every major category: 1st slugging (1.044), 1st OPS (1.587), 3rd HRs (16), 2nd batting average (.451), 3rd OBP (.543), 4th total bases (118), t-30th doubles (15), t-25th RBIs (45)
• 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, second in doubles, fourth in runs and ninth in steals.
• Ryan Thompson is t-13th in the nation and second in the Big Ten in wins (7-2).
• Joey Gerber, who has been up to 97 MPH, is t-4th in the nation with 12 saves. His 12 saves ranks third-most in an Illinois single season, two away from Tyler Jay's record of 14.
• Gerber's 20 career saves are fourth-best in Illinois history (Tyler Jay 24, Jeff Richards 23, Jeff Innis 21).
UP NEXT
Illinois goes back to Big Ten play this weekend at No. 15 Indiana.
