Tuesday, February 19
Los Angeles, CA
6:00 PM
UCLA
vs
Loyola Marymount at UCLA
Jake Pries ranks among the Pac-12 leaders in OBP and SLG after the opening weekend of the season (photo: Scott Chandler)
Photo by: Scott Chandler
No. 3 UCLA Continues Homestand Against LMU
February 18, 2019 | Baseball
UCLA Concludes Four-Game Homestand Tuesday
No. 3-ranked UCLA (3-0) wraps up a season-opening, four-game homestand on Tuesday evening, hosting neighboring Loyola Marymount (1-1) at Jackie Robinson Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.ย
Projected Pitching Matchups
Tuesday, Feb. 19 - 6 p.m. PT
UCLA - Nick Nastrini, RHP, Fr. (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 IP)
LMU - LHP Mark Finkelnburg, LHP, RJr. (2018: 0-0, 5.85 ERA)
Weekend In Review
UCLA couldn't have hoped for a much better start to the 2019 season, sweeping Big East-member St. John's in a three-game home series. The Bruins outscored the Red Storm 23-3, and all three of the visitors' runs for the series were unearned.ย
ย ย -UCLA started the series with a 3-2 win on Opening Day, overcoming a 2-0 deficit.The Bruins scored the game-winning run as part of a go-ahead seventh inning two-run rally, with Chase Strumpf and Matt McLain drawing bases loaded walks. The Bruins had previously loaded the bases on a drag bunt single from Ryan Kreidler, a Jeremy Ydens walk, and a catcher's interference call. Freshman Jack Filby picked up the win after tossing a scoreless top of the seventh.
ย ย -The Bruins won the series with a 9-0 decision on Saturday. UCLA allowed just three hits in the shutout. Jack Ralston went a career-high six innings to earn the win, while the UCLA bullpen didn't allow a single hit the rest of the way. McLain, Jake Pries, and Kreidler had RBI extra-base hits in a decisive four-run second inning.ย
ย ย -UCLA completed the sweep with an 11-1 Sunday win. SJU opened the scoring in the third, but the Bruins scored 11 unanswered to claim the game comfortably. UCLA broke the game open with a seven-run seventh. The Bruins allowed just two hits for the game, the team's first two-hitter since Feb. 19, 2017 (vs. San Jose State).ย
ย ย -UCLA scored at least 20 runs in its opening weekend for the ninth time in 15 seasons under John Savage.ย
ย ย -Last weekend was the first time UCLA allowed just nine hits over a three-game span since Feb. 18-21, 2017 (vs. San Jose State and UC Riverside)
Nastrini to Make First Collegiate Start Tuesday
Freshman RHP Nick Nastrini will get the ball on Tuesday and make his first collegiate start. He made his NCAA debut on Saturday afternoon, striking out the side in order on 13 pitches to close out the 9-0 victory. Nastrini has experience against college-level hitters, as he was an All-West Coast League pick in summer 2018 with the Bellingham Bells (was teammates with McLain). He had a 1.88 ERA that summer and struck out just under a batter per inning (43 Ks in 49 IP). He will look to follow the path of fellow freshman teammate Jesse Bergin, who was a standout in his first-ever NCAA start on Sunday.
Midweek Notes
UCLA went 7-4 in midweeks last season. including a pair of wins over LMU. The Bruins are staying local for their entire midweek slate in 2019, as their furthest opponent is UC Irvine (52 miles). UCLA doesn't leave Los Angeles County for a midweek contest until Apr. 23 (at Cal State Fullerton). All of UCLA's midweeks this year are scheduled on Tuesdays.ย
UCLA Pitchers Thriving In The Early Going
After the first weekend of regular season action, the UCLA pitching staff finds itself at or near the top of nearly every pitching statistic in the Pac-12. UCLA leads the league in ERA (0.00), batting average against (.102), runs allowed (3), earned runs allowed (0), walks allowed (5), and extra-base hits allowed (1). With 41 strikeouts in three games, the Bruins are just one behind Stanford and Arizona for the conference lead.ย
Don't Mess With The Bull
As good as UCLA's starting pitchers were last weekend, the bullpen was downright unhittable. Over 9 1/3 combined innings of work, Bruin relievers allowed just one hit while striking out 16 (a 15.4 K/9 ratio). Junior righty Kyla Mora (3 IP, 0 H, 6 K), and sophomore righty Holden Powell (2 IP, 1 SV, 1 H) have been especially impressive so far, though Nate Hadley (1.1 IP, 2 K), Filby (1 IP, 1 K), Michael Townsend (1 IP, 2 K), and Nastrini (1 IP, 3 K) all thrived when called upon.ย
Balanced Offense
Five UCLA regulars hit .350 or better on the weekend, led by Jeremy Ydens's team-high .556 average. Jake Pries (.500), Garrett Mitchell (.400), Chase Strumpf (.400), and Ryan Kreidler (.364) all met the mark as well. Even those hitting under .350 found a way to make significant contributions, such as Matt McLain's nine-pitch walk on Friday that brought in the game-winning run or Michael Toglia's game-tying RBI single on Sunday.
Scouting the Lions
Loyola Marymount is 1-1 on the season after splitting a two-game series with UC Santa Barbara. The Lions and Gauchos were slated to play a three-game set in Santa Barbara, but had to relocate and shorten the series to Los Angeles due to poor weather and field conditions. LMU was tabbed to finish seventh in the West Coast Conference. They are led by Preseason All-WCC shortstop Nick Sogard, who batted .324 as a sophomore in 2018. Tommy Delgado (.600 BA), Uhl Cooper (.444, two doubles), and Trevin Esquerra (.333, one double) all had solid performances against UCSB.ย
Rankings Roundup
As of Monday afternoon, UCLA has either stood pat or moved up in every national poll. The Bruins are still ranked as high as No. 3, a spot where three outlets (Baseball American, Collegiate Baseball, NCBWA) have them. UCLA also moved up one spot in the D1Baseball.com poll, to No. 4.ย
Looking Ahead
Following Tuesday's clash with the Lions, UCLA heads to Atlanta, Ga. for a three-game series at Georgia Tech starting on Friday. That represents the last time the Bruins will leave the state of California until early May.ย
High Expectations For UCLA in Preseason Rankings
UCLA appeared in every national preseason poll this winter, coming in as high as No. 3 (Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball). Elsewhere, the Bruins were ranked No. 4 (NCBWA, Perfect Game), No. 5 (D1Baseball), and No. 7 (ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll). UCLA is the highest-ranked Pac-12 team in four of six polls, and has the highest aggregate ranking of any league team.ย
Bruins Picked to Win Pac-12 in Preseason Coaches Poll
In a vote of all 11 Pac-12 coaches, the Bruins were picked as the favorites to win the league in 2019. UCLA received eight of 11 first place votes and a league-high 97 points. 2015 was the last time that UCLA was picked to finish first in the Preseason Coaches Poll, which was also the last time that UCLA won the league. Stanford (two first place votes, 90 points) and Oregon St. (one first place vote, 85 points) also received first place votes. They were followed in succession by Arizona (67), Washington (60), Arizona State (59), Oregon (49), California (37), USC (32), Washington State (15), and Utah (14).ย
Strumpf Named a Unanimous First Team Preseason All-American
UCLA junior Chase Strumpf was the First Team second baseman on every Preseason All-America team released this offseason, as he was honored by Baseball America, D1Baseball, Collegiate Baseball, NCBWA, and Perfect Game. He was one of just four players nationwide to gain consensus First Team status, joining catcher Adley Rutschman (Oregon State), first baseman Andrew Vaughn (Cal), and third baseman Josh Jung (Texas Tech). Strumpf slashed .363/.475/.633 last year with 12 home runs and 53 RBIs en route to All-America and Dick Howser Award semifinalist honors.ย
Toglia, Ydens Also Pick Up All-American Acclaim
Strumpf wasn't the only Bruin to get preseason publicity, as both Michael Toglia and Jeremy Ydens were named Preseason All-Americans. Toglia was a Second Teamer in D1Baseball and a Third Team choice in Collegiate Baseball, NCBWA, and Perfect Game, while Ydens was a Second Team outfielder per Collegiate Baseball. Toglia (.336 average, 11 home runs) and Ydens (.350 average, 28 extra-base hits) were key middle-of-the-order bats for the Bruins last year.
Savage Eyes A Pair Of Milestones
Heading into the LMU matchup, UCLA head coach John Savage is in striking distance of a pair of career milestones. As of the series opener, he needs 10 wins for 500 at UCLA and 22 wins for 600 overall in his career.ย
Fabulous Freshmen
UCLA's newest class of newcomers was ranked as high as No. 4 in the country (D1Baseball). The Bruins' new class was the highest-ranked in the Pac-12 and in the western half of the country. UCLA has turned in a top-25 recruiting class for five consecutive seasons, while the Bruins' No. 4 ranking is the highest for the program since 2015. A trio of frosh players were selected to D1Baseball's Top-100 Impact Freshmen List, including list-topper Matt McLain, catcher Noah Cardenas (No. 81), and right-handed pitcher Sean Mullen (No. 89).ย
McLain Chooses UCLA
The Bruins' freshman class is highlighted by Tustin, Calif. native Matt McLain, who opted to attend UCLA after being drafted in the first round (25th overall) of the 2018 MLB First-Year Player Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks. McLain is the second first-round draft pick out of high school to attend UCLA, following in the foosteps of Gerrit Cole (2008). Other high draft choices to turn down MLB overtures include Troy Glaus (37th overall, 1994) and Chase Utley (76th overall, 1997).ย
Powell Named to Stopper of the Year Watch List
UCLA sophomore righty Holden Powell was named to the 75-man Stopper of the Year Watch List by the NCBWA. First awarded in 2005, the Stopper of the Year is handed out to college baseball's top reliever annually. Former Bruin closer David Berg is the lone pitcher ever to win the award multiple times.ย
UCLA In The Positional Power Rankings
UCLA was well-represented in the D1Baseball.com positional power rankings, published just before the start of the season.ย Chase Strumpf was the Bruins' top player, taking the No. 1 spot at second base. The Bruins' other starting infielder all made it was well: Michael Toglia was the No. 3 first baseman, Kevin Kendall was the No. 21 shortstop, and Ryan Kreidler was No. 29 at third base. All three of the Bruins' starting outfielders made the power rankings too: Jeremy Ydens (No. 15), Matt McLain (No. 37), and Garrett Mitchell (No. 62). A pair of Bruin starting pitchers were recognized (Ryan Garcia, No. 20 and Zach Pettway, No. 100) while Holden Powell (No. 35) made the relievers list.ย
Dynamic Duo Named to Golden Spikes Award Watch List
UCLA's Chase Strumpf and Michael Toglia were both named to the Golden Spikes Award Watch List prior to the new season. In 2018, Strumpf and Toglia were the most prolific Bruin teammates of the last 20 years. Last year, the right-side of the UCLA infield became the first Bruin duo since 2007 to hit double-digit home runs in the same season when Cody Decker (14) and Gabe Cohen (10) accomplished the feat. Strumpf and Toglia are just the fourth and fifth Bruins since 2001 with 50-plus RBIs and 10-plus home runs in the same season. The pair also became the first UCLA teammates since 2008 to each drive in over 50 runs in the same season (Casey Haerther, 52 and Brandon Crawford, 51).
No. 3-ranked UCLA (3-0) wraps up a season-opening, four-game homestand on Tuesday evening, hosting neighboring Loyola Marymount (1-1) at Jackie Robinson Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.ย
Projected Pitching Matchups
Tuesday, Feb. 19 - 6 p.m. PT
UCLA - Nick Nastrini, RHP, Fr. (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 IP)
LMU - LHP Mark Finkelnburg, LHP, RJr. (2018: 0-0, 5.85 ERA)
Weekend In Review
UCLA couldn't have hoped for a much better start to the 2019 season, sweeping Big East-member St. John's in a three-game home series. The Bruins outscored the Red Storm 23-3, and all three of the visitors' runs for the series were unearned.ย
ย ย -UCLA started the series with a 3-2 win on Opening Day, overcoming a 2-0 deficit.The Bruins scored the game-winning run as part of a go-ahead seventh inning two-run rally, with Chase Strumpf and Matt McLain drawing bases loaded walks. The Bruins had previously loaded the bases on a drag bunt single from Ryan Kreidler, a Jeremy Ydens walk, and a catcher's interference call. Freshman Jack Filby picked up the win after tossing a scoreless top of the seventh.
ย ย -The Bruins won the series with a 9-0 decision on Saturday. UCLA allowed just three hits in the shutout. Jack Ralston went a career-high six innings to earn the win, while the UCLA bullpen didn't allow a single hit the rest of the way. McLain, Jake Pries, and Kreidler had RBI extra-base hits in a decisive four-run second inning.ย
ย ย -UCLA completed the sweep with an 11-1 Sunday win. SJU opened the scoring in the third, but the Bruins scored 11 unanswered to claim the game comfortably. UCLA broke the game open with a seven-run seventh. The Bruins allowed just two hits for the game, the team's first two-hitter since Feb. 19, 2017 (vs. San Jose State).ย
ย ย -UCLA scored at least 20 runs in its opening weekend for the ninth time in 15 seasons under John Savage.ย
ย ย -Last weekend was the first time UCLA allowed just nine hits over a three-game span since Feb. 18-21, 2017 (vs. San Jose State and UC Riverside)
Nastrini to Make First Collegiate Start Tuesday
Freshman RHP Nick Nastrini will get the ball on Tuesday and make his first collegiate start. He made his NCAA debut on Saturday afternoon, striking out the side in order on 13 pitches to close out the 9-0 victory. Nastrini has experience against college-level hitters, as he was an All-West Coast League pick in summer 2018 with the Bellingham Bells (was teammates with McLain). He had a 1.88 ERA that summer and struck out just under a batter per inning (43 Ks in 49 IP). He will look to follow the path of fellow freshman teammate Jesse Bergin, who was a standout in his first-ever NCAA start on Sunday.
Midweek Notes
UCLA went 7-4 in midweeks last season. including a pair of wins over LMU. The Bruins are staying local for their entire midweek slate in 2019, as their furthest opponent is UC Irvine (52 miles). UCLA doesn't leave Los Angeles County for a midweek contest until Apr. 23 (at Cal State Fullerton). All of UCLA's midweeks this year are scheduled on Tuesdays.ย
UCLA Pitchers Thriving In The Early Going
After the first weekend of regular season action, the UCLA pitching staff finds itself at or near the top of nearly every pitching statistic in the Pac-12. UCLA leads the league in ERA (0.00), batting average against (.102), runs allowed (3), earned runs allowed (0), walks allowed (5), and extra-base hits allowed (1). With 41 strikeouts in three games, the Bruins are just one behind Stanford and Arizona for the conference lead.ย
Don't Mess With The Bull
As good as UCLA's starting pitchers were last weekend, the bullpen was downright unhittable. Over 9 1/3 combined innings of work, Bruin relievers allowed just one hit while striking out 16 (a 15.4 K/9 ratio). Junior righty Kyla Mora (3 IP, 0 H, 6 K), and sophomore righty Holden Powell (2 IP, 1 SV, 1 H) have been especially impressive so far, though Nate Hadley (1.1 IP, 2 K), Filby (1 IP, 1 K), Michael Townsend (1 IP, 2 K), and Nastrini (1 IP, 3 K) all thrived when called upon.ย
Balanced Offense
Five UCLA regulars hit .350 or better on the weekend, led by Jeremy Ydens's team-high .556 average. Jake Pries (.500), Garrett Mitchell (.400), Chase Strumpf (.400), and Ryan Kreidler (.364) all met the mark as well. Even those hitting under .350 found a way to make significant contributions, such as Matt McLain's nine-pitch walk on Friday that brought in the game-winning run or Michael Toglia's game-tying RBI single on Sunday.
Scouting the Lions
Loyola Marymount is 1-1 on the season after splitting a two-game series with UC Santa Barbara. The Lions and Gauchos were slated to play a three-game set in Santa Barbara, but had to relocate and shorten the series to Los Angeles due to poor weather and field conditions. LMU was tabbed to finish seventh in the West Coast Conference. They are led by Preseason All-WCC shortstop Nick Sogard, who batted .324 as a sophomore in 2018. Tommy Delgado (.600 BA), Uhl Cooper (.444, two doubles), and Trevin Esquerra (.333, one double) all had solid performances against UCSB.ย
Rankings Roundup
As of Monday afternoon, UCLA has either stood pat or moved up in every national poll. The Bruins are still ranked as high as No. 3, a spot where three outlets (Baseball American, Collegiate Baseball, NCBWA) have them. UCLA also moved up one spot in the D1Baseball.com poll, to No. 4.ย
Looking Ahead
Following Tuesday's clash with the Lions, UCLA heads to Atlanta, Ga. for a three-game series at Georgia Tech starting on Friday. That represents the last time the Bruins will leave the state of California until early May.ย
High Expectations For UCLA in Preseason Rankings
UCLA appeared in every national preseason poll this winter, coming in as high as No. 3 (Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball). Elsewhere, the Bruins were ranked No. 4 (NCBWA, Perfect Game), No. 5 (D1Baseball), and No. 7 (ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll). UCLA is the highest-ranked Pac-12 team in four of six polls, and has the highest aggregate ranking of any league team.ย
Bruins Picked to Win Pac-12 in Preseason Coaches Poll
In a vote of all 11 Pac-12 coaches, the Bruins were picked as the favorites to win the league in 2019. UCLA received eight of 11 first place votes and a league-high 97 points. 2015 was the last time that UCLA was picked to finish first in the Preseason Coaches Poll, which was also the last time that UCLA won the league. Stanford (two first place votes, 90 points) and Oregon St. (one first place vote, 85 points) also received first place votes. They were followed in succession by Arizona (67), Washington (60), Arizona State (59), Oregon (49), California (37), USC (32), Washington State (15), and Utah (14).ย
Strumpf Named a Unanimous First Team Preseason All-American
UCLA junior Chase Strumpf was the First Team second baseman on every Preseason All-America team released this offseason, as he was honored by Baseball America, D1Baseball, Collegiate Baseball, NCBWA, and Perfect Game. He was one of just four players nationwide to gain consensus First Team status, joining catcher Adley Rutschman (Oregon State), first baseman Andrew Vaughn (Cal), and third baseman Josh Jung (Texas Tech). Strumpf slashed .363/.475/.633 last year with 12 home runs and 53 RBIs en route to All-America and Dick Howser Award semifinalist honors.ย
Toglia, Ydens Also Pick Up All-American Acclaim
Strumpf wasn't the only Bruin to get preseason publicity, as both Michael Toglia and Jeremy Ydens were named Preseason All-Americans. Toglia was a Second Teamer in D1Baseball and a Third Team choice in Collegiate Baseball, NCBWA, and Perfect Game, while Ydens was a Second Team outfielder per Collegiate Baseball. Toglia (.336 average, 11 home runs) and Ydens (.350 average, 28 extra-base hits) were key middle-of-the-order bats for the Bruins last year.
Savage Eyes A Pair Of Milestones
Heading into the LMU matchup, UCLA head coach John Savage is in striking distance of a pair of career milestones. As of the series opener, he needs 10 wins for 500 at UCLA and 22 wins for 600 overall in his career.ย
Fabulous Freshmen
UCLA's newest class of newcomers was ranked as high as No. 4 in the country (D1Baseball). The Bruins' new class was the highest-ranked in the Pac-12 and in the western half of the country. UCLA has turned in a top-25 recruiting class for five consecutive seasons, while the Bruins' No. 4 ranking is the highest for the program since 2015. A trio of frosh players were selected to D1Baseball's Top-100 Impact Freshmen List, including list-topper Matt McLain, catcher Noah Cardenas (No. 81), and right-handed pitcher Sean Mullen (No. 89).ย
McLain Chooses UCLA
The Bruins' freshman class is highlighted by Tustin, Calif. native Matt McLain, who opted to attend UCLA after being drafted in the first round (25th overall) of the 2018 MLB First-Year Player Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks. McLain is the second first-round draft pick out of high school to attend UCLA, following in the foosteps of Gerrit Cole (2008). Other high draft choices to turn down MLB overtures include Troy Glaus (37th overall, 1994) and Chase Utley (76th overall, 1997).ย
Powell Named to Stopper of the Year Watch List
UCLA sophomore righty Holden Powell was named to the 75-man Stopper of the Year Watch List by the NCBWA. First awarded in 2005, the Stopper of the Year is handed out to college baseball's top reliever annually. Former Bruin closer David Berg is the lone pitcher ever to win the award multiple times.ย
UCLA In The Positional Power Rankings
UCLA was well-represented in the D1Baseball.com positional power rankings, published just before the start of the season.ย Chase Strumpf was the Bruins' top player, taking the No. 1 spot at second base. The Bruins' other starting infielder all made it was well: Michael Toglia was the No. 3 first baseman, Kevin Kendall was the No. 21 shortstop, and Ryan Kreidler was No. 29 at third base. All three of the Bruins' starting outfielders made the power rankings too: Jeremy Ydens (No. 15), Matt McLain (No. 37), and Garrett Mitchell (No. 62). A pair of Bruin starting pitchers were recognized (Ryan Garcia, No. 20 and Zach Pettway, No. 100) while Holden Powell (No. 35) made the relievers list.ย
Dynamic Duo Named to Golden Spikes Award Watch List
UCLA's Chase Strumpf and Michael Toglia were both named to the Golden Spikes Award Watch List prior to the new season. In 2018, Strumpf and Toglia were the most prolific Bruin teammates of the last 20 years. Last year, the right-side of the UCLA infield became the first Bruin duo since 2007 to hit double-digit home runs in the same season when Cody Decker (14) and Gabe Cohen (10) accomplished the feat. Strumpf and Toglia are just the fourth and fifth Bruins since 2001 with 50-plus RBIs and 10-plus home runs in the same season. The pair also became the first UCLA teammates since 2008 to each drive in over 50 runs in the same season (Casey Haerther, 52 and Brandon Crawford, 51).
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