Tennessee baseball is scratching Landon Mack from his scheduled Sunday start against Texas, GoVols247’s Ben McKee first reported Saturday. The Vols added Mack to the SEC injury report on Saturday before game two of the weekend series.
Mack is dealing with right-arm soreness and it is uncertain how long the injury will sideline the sophomore starting pitcher. The Vols have yet to announce who will start in Mack’s place in Sunday’s series finale.
A Rutgers transfer, Mack has posted a 4-4 record, 4.67 ERA and 1.49 WHIP in 61.2 innings pitched this season. The right-handed pitcher has struck out 77 batters while walking 25.
Mack has started in all three games in weekend series this season. He began the season as the Vols’ Saturday starter before moving into the Friday night spot. Mack was terrific in his Friday night debut against LSU but struggled his next three times out before starting on Sunday last week against Kentucky.
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The right-handed pitcher bounced back at Kentucky, allowing one earned run on six hits and two walks in six innings pitched as Tennessee salvaged the series with a rubber match victory.
Mack battling arm soreness is a major blow to a Tennessee’s already thin pitching staff. The Vols have struggled finding consistent reliable arms this season. Tegan Kuhns’ is done for the weekend after throwing 113 pitches on Friday night against Texas. The same is likely the case for Brandon Arvidson after he threw 41 pitches in relief.
Evan Blanco is starting for Tennessee in game two on Saturday night. Top relievers Cam Appenzeller and Bo Rhudy have yet to throw this weekend and are coming off poor performances last week at Kentucky. Whether Brayden Krenzel, Brady Frederick, Chandler Day or someone else, Tennessee needs other arms to step up.
Behind a dominant start from Kuhns, Tennessee took the series opener 5-1 over No. 4 Texas on Friday night. The Vols improved to 12-13 in SEC play with the victory.
