COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) – Texas A&M left-handed pitcher Shane Sdao will factor heavily into the No. 10 Aggies\u2019 plans this weekend as they travel to No. 23 Ole Miss for the second-to-last series of the regular season. Head coach Michael Earley was adamant about that fact.<\/p>\n
However, for the first time this year, it won\u2019t be as part of the starting rotation.<\/p>\n
Earley announced Thursday a change to the starting lineup that will see junior left-hander Ethan Darden get the ball for A&M\u2019s Friday series opener in Oxford. Aiden Sims will continue as A&M\u2019s Saturday starter, and Sunday\u2019s starter remains to be determined.<\/p>\n
Darden, a Clemson transfer, started nine games last season for the Tigers. He posted a 4-2 record with a 6.08 ERA in that role. Out of the bullpen this season, Darden has a 4-0 record with a 2.88 ERA in 25 innings pitched.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think he\u2019s done well this year,\u201d Earley said Thursday of Darden. \u201cI think, if you look at his stats and what he\u2019s done, he\u2019s got experience starting, which maybe played a little bit of role into it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Some of Darden\u2019s success this season has been changes to his pitch mix and how he pitches compared with when he was a starter at Clemson, Earley said.<\/p>\n
Earley stopped short of calling Darden an opener, saying they want the lefty to get as many outs as possible. However, at that point they can look to Sdao to collect innings out of the bullpen.<\/p>\n
Sdao has struggled through his first season back from injury, amassing a 3-4 record with a 6.55 ERA. In his last start Saturday against Auburn, Sdao made his earliest exit of the season after one inning. He allowed six runs on four hits in an 18-5 loss to Auburn.<\/p>\n
\u201cShane hasn\u2019t had the year he\u2019s wanted to have,\u201d Earley said. \u201cHe hasn\u2019t had the year we\u2019ve wanted him to have. He knows it. We need Shane to be good. We need to see how he does out of the pen and put him in situations that are going to be pretty big situations. We\u2019re not burying Shane Sdao. If anything, it\u2019s a different role, but it\u2019s going to be as important, if not more important, the role he\u2019s put in.\u201d<\/p>\n
Among SEC pitchers who have at least one inning pitched per team game played, Sdao ranks last in the conference in ERA during SEC games at 9.74, and last in WHIP at 2.16 and in hits, with 57. He holds an 0-4 record in conference games this season.<\/p>\n
In 2024, his last full season on the mound for the Aggies, Sdao finished the year with a 5-1 record and a 2.96 ERA, starting five games.<\/p>\n
Sdao left the second game of the 2024 College Station Super Regional after suffering a ligament injury to his throwing arm that ultimately required surgery.<\/p>\n
Closer Clayton Freshcorn, one of Sdao\u2019s closest friends on the team, said the lefty took the news of his move back to the bullpen well this week.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m proud of him, because he could have taken it any way,\u201d Freshcorn said. \u201cHe came to me in the weight room and he was just like, \u2018Man, I was just told I\u2019m not going on Friday, but I\u2019m excited to go. I know that I\u2019m going to get my chance and when I get it I\u2019m not going to miss it.\u2019 That just shows maturity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sophomore Aiden Sims has been A&M\u2019s top arm in the rotation this season, collecting a 5-1 record with a 4.68 ERA. His win total is tied for second in the SEC, with A&M reliever Gavin Lyons leading the way with six. Sims\u2019 first loss of the season was in the second game of Saturday\u2019s doubleheader against Auburn, which ended in a 5-4 Auburn victory.<\/p>\n
The likely option for A&M\u2019s (36-10, 15-8) Sunday\u2019s start is Weston Moss, who has filled that role in A&M\u2019s last three series. He has a 4-2 record with a 5.12 ERA. Should Sdao\u2019s services not be needed Friday, he could also be an option for Sunday\u2019s start.<\/p>\n
The Rebels (32-17, 12-12) will begin the series with left-hander Hunter Elliott (4-2, 5.49 ERA), followed by right-hander Cole Townsend (5-1, 2.42 ERA) and right-hander Tayler Rabe (3-3, 4.17 ERA). <\/p>\n
The unexpected nature of this rotation strategy can keep pitchers on their toes throughout the weekend, Freshcorn said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have to build up a little bit of adrenaline for starting and stuff like that, and there\u2019s nerves, but coming out of the pen is a little different and [Sdao\u2019s] done both, so he\u2019s going to be comfortable in both,\u201d Freshcorn said. \u201cHe\u2019s going to be fine, but I think he\u2019s going to get a little bit more juice pumping and we might see a couple of 96s or a 97 out of him, or something like that. So, it\u2019s going to be fun to watch. It\u2019s going to be something that, he\u2019s going to revert back to his old stuff a little bit and we\u2019ll see exactly how that goes.\u201d<\/p>\n
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