This makes sense to me. Cohen probably knows- OK, he knows- that we're automatically going to lose one because of our lack of a bullpen. He also knows that Whitney is a grinder, but he's not really a Fri night guy, but at the same time, he is certainly a capable pitcher.
From his view, we're probably not going to beat most teams aces, and we don't have the pitching to stop them on Sun. So, why not put the worst together, get our asses handed to us on Fri., and then take a chance with Routt on Sat., and then on Sun, when we have hit well, get a mismatch (except for maybe the Ole Miss series as you have said) on Sun with Whitney, when we have typically hit well.
I actually think this will work. I will also go on record as saying that this could also very well blow up in our faces.
Regardlss, I am glad that he is at least trying to win and not quitting.