HOOVER, Alabama — Andy Cannizaro has managed the Mississippi State baseball team’s limited pitching staff for months now.
As difficult as it has been, he has come to learn what a staff short on numbers needs. On most days, it needs a savior. In a perfect world, that savior is the starting pitcher going deep into a game to save bullpen arms.
When that doesn’t pan out, he can turn to Peyton Plumlee.
After starter Denver McQuary went four innings Thursday, Plumlee turned in four innings of two-hit, scoreless pitching to keep fifth-seeded MSU within striking distance of fourth-seeded Arkansas. Plumlee’s pitching proved pivotal as MSU rallied in the ninth to beat Arkansas 4-3. The outing served as a continuation of Plumlee’s improvement as a long relief option from the bullpen.
“We have so much confidence in him coming in and throwing strikes,” Cannizaro said. “That’s been one his biggest attributes, coming in and commanding his fastball. He does such a great job of locating his fastball away from right-handed hitters and he can come back and throw that curveball for a called strike.”
The role is still new to Plumlee. He started his first seven appearances of the season. Since then, he has been used in a long relief role almost exclusively. In six relief appearances since March 31 that lasted 2 2/3 innings or longer, he has an earned run average (ERA) of 0.93 and a walks and hits per inning (WHIP) of 0.932.
Plumlee has had some rough outings, but he has allowed three runs and seven hits in his last four appearances (12 innings).
“The biggest thing in coming out of the bullpen is filling up the strike zone and letting the defense work behind you,” Plumlee said. “We talk all the time with (pitching coach Gary) Henderson about getting ahead in the count.”
Although saving pitch counts isn’t Henderson’s reason for preaching getting ahead in the strike zone, it is at the very least a happy side effect. Plumlee threw 61 pitches Thursday to save the bullpen for what could be a doubleheader today. MSU will take on top-seeded Florida at 11 a.m. today (SEC Network). The loser will play Arkansas in the third game of the day. The loser of that game will be eliminated.
Plumlee’s effort kept MSU (36-22) from having to use several pitchers to piece together games, which Henderson told The Dispatch earlier in the season is “not sustainable” with a staff the size of MSU’s.
Plumlee’s recent performance also has Cannizaro contemplating moving Plumlee back to a starting spot. Plumlee is unlikely to pitch again in the SEC tournament. If he does, it won’t be long enough to use him as a starter, but he is a candidate as MSU looks forward to an NCAA regional.
“As we get deeper into tournaments,” Cannizaro said, “I think Peyton would have the confidence of our coaching staff to start a ballgame if we needed it.”
n NOTES: Cannizaro said he is undecided on a starting pitcher for today’s game, but he said Jacob Billingsley and Cole Gordon will “dominate that conversation.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brett Hudson on Twitter @Brett_Hudson
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