The Quest For 9: Why LSU’s Arms Are Built Different In 2026

Listen: if you still have a hangover from the 2025 National Championship celebration, drink a Pedialyte, grab some water, or maybe just keep drinking. Jay Johnson and Nate Yeskie didn’t spend the summer at Fred’s; they spent it reloading a pitching staff that is somehow deeper than the 2023 squad that featured Paul Skenes.

With Kade Anderson and Anthony Eyanson off to the league to get paid, the 2026 staff is a mix of "Super Sophomores" who throw gas, elite transfer portal snags, and high-end freshmen. Here is how the rotation and the pen shake out on the quest for No. 9.

The Weekend Starters: The Three-Headed Monster

(My opinion on the starters and bullpen)

• Friday: Casan Evans (So. | RHP) – The "Houston Hammer" is officially the ace. Last year, he was a Stopper of the Year finalist with a 2.05 ERA and a strikeout rate that made opposing hitters look like they were swinging underwater. He’s moving from the pen to the frontline. If he keeps that 12.1 K/9 pace as a starter, it’s over for the SEC.

• Saturday: Cooper Moore (Jr. | RHP) – LSU went into the portal and grabbed Kansas’ best arm. Moore was a Friday night guy in the Big 12, so moving him to Saturday at Alex Box is basically a cheat code. He’s a "strike-throwing machine" here to eat innings and keep the bullpen fresh for Sunday.

• Sunday: Cooper Williams (So. | LHP) – The Texas southpaw has officially graduated to the weekend. Last year, Williams was a stone-cold killer as a freshman, posting a ridiculous 1.80 ERA in 21 appearances. Putting a lefty with his "plus" command on Sundays is a nightmare for teams trying to salvage a series.

The "God-Gifted" Arms: Schmidt, Sheerin, and Rizy

If you want to see pure, unadulterated velocity, these are your guys.

• William Schmidt (So. | RHP): Schmidt touched 99 mph this fall. His curveball has more spin than a political press secretary. He’s the ultimate wild card—if he isn't starting midweeks, he's the guy coming in to blow doors off in the 7th inning.

• Deven Sheerin (RS-So. | RHP): This was the portal prize of the season. Sheerin comes in from Mount St. Mary’s built like a linebacker (6'5", 255 lbs). He punched out 109 batters in 70 innings as a freshman. He's the "Enforcer"—expect him to bully hitters into submission.

• Mavrick Rizy (So. | RHP): He’s 6’9”. Rizy had the most appearances last year on a team full of studs. After a dominant summer in the Cape, he looks ready to be the high-leverage monster we expect. Closer?

The Pen: Closers, Vets, and the Comeback

• The Bridge: Zac Cowan (Sr. | RHP) – Having a guy with a 2.94 ERA and a veteran brain available for three innings of relief is how you win in Omaha. His fastball plays well because of his elite changeup. If Cowan can replicate his outing against Arkansas in the CWS, could he eventually move into a Sunday starter role?

• The Return of the King: Gavin Guidry (RS-Jr.) – He's back. After missing 2025, the man who threw the final pitch of the 2023 Natty is healthy. Whether he's the closer or a "bridge" guy, his "ice in the veins" energy is exactly what this young staff needs.

• The New Breed: Marcos Paz (Fr. | RHP) – The crown jewel of the freshman class. Paz was a top-10 recruit nationally before a brief injury stint. He’s healthy now and ready to prove why he was the #3 RHP in Texas. He’ll likely start midweeks, but don't be shocked if he earns a much bigger role by the SEC Tournament—possibly mirroring Casan Evans' role from last year.

LSU’s pitching staff has a chance to be one of the very best in the country. If guys like Evans, Schmidt, Rizy, and Sheerin make the jump into their respective roles, this staff will be elite. Who do you think will have the biggest impact on this staff?