Auburn Tigers
Auburn enters the series with a scorching .916 team OPS, powered by one of the deepest lineups in the country. Only three regulars are batting below .300, and seven hitters have reached double-digit home runs. Leading the charge is Ike Irish, the No. 10 prospect in the 2025 draft, who’s slashing .362/.464/.700 with 18 homers and 57 RBI. This offense blends elite power with solid bat-to-ball skills, striking out just 21.2% of the time, well below what you'd expect from such a power-heavy group.
However, the Tigers’ pitching is their most significant vulnerability. Ace Samuel Dutton has been effective overall with a 3.84 ERA and 92 strikeouts over 82 innings, but has struggled lately, surrendering 17 runs across his last three starts. The staff has been inconsistent beyond a few key bullpen arms—Myers, Hetzler, and Carlson. With recent declines from Dutton, Cam Tilly, and Cade Fisher, Auburn’s pitching could be its undoing.
