Mix Up in Arkansas Pitching Rotation

Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn announced earlier this week that he will be mixing up the rotation this weekend. Instead of going with All American Nick Schmidt in Game 1 against Albany, he will start usual Sunday starter Duke Welker. Jess Todd, who dominated South Carolina with 17 K's in the SEC Tourney last weekend, will start in his usual Saturday spot against either Creighton or Oklahoma State, provided that they beat Albany Friday. So that sets up Nick Schmidt pitching in Game 3 in either the regional championship game or a loser's bracket game. This strategy hurt Vanderbilt in the SEC Tourney after Tim Corbin started Brett Jacobsen over David Price against Tennessee (lost 6-4). But I believe the thinking is that if Welker can give the Hogs about 7-8 innings with only allowing 1 or 2 runs, the rest of the regionals they will be set up perfectly. Van Horn doesn't want to waste Schmidt against a team like Albany.