The ACC enters the midpoint of the conference schedule this weekend with Florida State leading the Atlantic Division with a record of 8-4 with NC State in second place with a 5-7 record and Boston College in third place at 4-7. Clemson and Wake Forest are tied for fourth place at 4-8 while Maryland rounds out the division with a 2-10 record. The Coastal Division is led by Georgia Tech and Virginia with identical 11-1 marks. North Carolina is right on their heels with a 10-2 record in third place. Miami is a game behind the Tar Heels with a 9-3 record while Duke is 3-9 and Virginia Tech is at 1-11.
North Carolina (27-4, 10-2 ACC) at Florida State (22-7, 8-4 ACC)
What to Watch For: Both Florida State and UNC have not been playing the “elite” teams in the conference during their first four conference series. The Seminoles ended up losing two out of three games against Virginia in their only matchup with a squad in the upper half of the standings while also dropping a game to Wake Forest and Maryland. UNC has really taken care of business in their last three conference series against Clemson, Duke, and Virginia Tech after starting the conference slate losing two out of three games to Wake Forest.
Probable Starting Pitchers
Friday UNC RHP Patrick Johnson (Sr., 6-0, 2.78 ERA vs FSU LHP Sean Gilmartin (Jr., 6-0, 1.30 ERA)
Saturday UNC LHP Kent Emanuel (Fr., 4-1, 1.94 ERA) vs FSU RHP Scott Sitz (So., 3-2, 4.17 ERA)
Sunday UNC RHP Chris Munnelly (So., 3-1, 4.15 ERA) vs FSU RHP Gary Merians (Jr., 5-1, 2.33 ERA)
Prediction
Brian Foley: UNC 2-1
Boston College (11-15, 4-7 ACC) at Duke (18-14, 3-9 ACC)
What to Watch For: The Eagles have the worst pitching staff in the conference at 5.45 after giving up 26 runs in a doubleheader last weekend against Miami. The Duke Blue Devils are a team to watch as Marcus Stroman has continued to pitch well after an outstanding summer as he is 1-1 with a 2.86 ERA.
Probable Starting Pitchers
Friday BC: Andrew Lawrence, LHP (1-1, 3.75 ERA) vs DU: Dillon Haviland, LHP (1-2, 2.00 ERA)
Saturday BC: TBA/Nate Bayuk, LHP (3-3, 5.23 ERA vs DU: RHP Dennis O’Grady, RHP (4-1, 4.54 ERA)
Sunday BC: John Leonard, RHP (3-3, 3.68 ERA) vs DU: Marcus Stroman, RHP (1-1, 2.86 ERA)
Prediction
Brian Foley: Duke 2-1
Virginia Tech (15-16, 1-11 ACC) at Wake Forest (11-18, 4-8 ACC)
What to Watch For: The Virginia Tech Hokies have had a tough start to the conference slate as they are 1-11. They are in need of a sweep in ACC play to get back into the talk of possibly getting a bid in the ACC postseason tournament. Wake Forest has not been a great hitting team at all as they are the worst in the conference with a team batting average of .223.
Probable Starting Pitchers
Friday VT LHP Joe Mantiply (2-5) vs WF LHP Tim Cooney (3-1)
Saturday VT RHP Marc Zecchino (2-4) vs WF RHP Justin Van Grouw (2-2)
Sunday VT RHP Joe Parsons (4-2) vs. WF LHP Brian Holmes (2-1)
Prediction
Brian Foley: VT 2-1
Maryland (14-15, 2-10 ACC) at Clemson (16-12, 4-8 ACC)
What to Watch For: Maryland’s David Carroll has picked up wins over nationally ranked Texas and Florida State this season as he sports a 5-1 record with a 2.15 ERA. Clemson has been hammered with injuries to the pitching staff and the lineup which sees them sending both Dominic Leone and Scott Firth to the mound this weekend.
Probable Starting Pitchers
Friday UMD David Carroll RHP Jr. (5-1, 2.15 ERA) vs CU Dominic Leone RHP So. (0-1, 5.54 ERA)
Saturday UMD Eric Potter LHP Sr. (2-3, 4.25 ERA) vs CU Scott Firth RHP So. (2-0, 3.55 ERA)
Sunday UMD TBA vs CU TBA
Prediction
Brian Foley: UMD 2-1
Virginia (29-2, 11-1 ACC) at Georgia Tech (23-7, 11-1 ACC)
What to Watch For: This series is the place to be this weekend especially on Friday night when Virginia sends LHP Danny Hultzen to face off against Mark Pope. Hultzen is 6-0 with a 1.36 ERA while Pope has been more dominant with a 7-0 record and a 0.66 ERA.
Probable Starting Pitchers
Friday: UVA LHP Danny Hultzen (6-0, 1.36, 46.1 IP, 78 SO) vs GT RHP Mark Pope (7-0, 0.66, 54.2 IP, 48 SO)
Saturday: UVA RHP Tyler Wilson (4-0, 1.90, 42.2 IP, 55 SO) vs GT LHP Jed Bradley (3-0, 1.85, 43.2 IP, 59 SO)
Sunday: UVA RHP Cody Winiarski (4-1, 3.05, 38.1 IP, 31 SO) vs GT RHP Buck Farmer (5-1, 2.11, 42.2 IP, 46 SO)
Prediction
Brian Foley: UVA 2-1
NC State (18-12, 5-7 ACC) at Miami (18-11, 8-3 ACC)
What to Watch For: The Hurricanes have scored 47 runs in their last four games as the bats are starting to come around. The NC State Wolfpack have been a little bit of a surprise to this point of the season as they are second in the Atlantic Division.
Friday NCS Cory Mazzoni (2-3, 3.97) vs. UM Bryan Radziewski (4-2, 3.47)
Saturday NCS Rob Chamra (4-0, 3.75) vs. UM Eric Whaley (5-1, 2.79)
Sunday NCS TBA vs. UM E.J. Encinosa (1-2, 3.38)
Prediction
Brian Foley: Miami 2-1
