New to the SEC, Xavier Rivas is excelling in the Ole Miss weekend rotation
The Ole Miss baseball team is heading west to take on Texas A&M this weekend with the goal of course correcting following the program’s first 0-6 start to conference play in 27 years. Starting pitcher Xavier Rivas could help with that.
After two weeks of Sunday starts in his first Southeastern Conference experience Rivas is getting the bump up to Saturday’s as part of a weekend rotation shuffle by Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco.
The transfer from University of Indianapolis has been a bright spot in the the Rebels starting rotation. In his first two Sunday starts Rivas has worked into the the fifth and sixth innings, which are two of the longer outings by Ole Miss starters this season.
Rivas allowed three runs off a hit to Vanderbilt in the opening weekend of SEC play and then gave up four runs — two earned — off five hits to Florida last Sunday.
“I feel good. Vanderbilt, with what they’re doing, just shows they’re a really good offense and Florida is obviously a great offense. One of the top in the country,” Rivas said after Sunday’s game. “Even though with the losses it’s definitely a confidence booster knowing that I belong here and I can pitch to these teams.”
Rivas has a season earned run average of 4.97, which is the lowest among the three weekend starters. Jack Dougherty is next with a 6.08 ERA and Grayson Saunier currently has an ERA of just under 8.00.
Due to Rivas’ performance and Saunier’s struggles getting worse with every passing Saturday a switch was made.
Rivas moves up a day, starting this weekend in College Station while Saunier was moved to the bullpen. Freshman JT Quinn is making his first SEC career start, throwing in Sunday’s series finale.
The shakeup in the rotation is needed after Ole Miss’ historic slow start to SEC play. Shuffling around Saturday and
“Proud of him and two weekends in a row he’s given us an opportunity on Sunday and that’s all you can ask,” Bianco said.
Rivas is currently working with only two pitches that are having success. The changeup is not where he nor Bianco would like it to be in terms of effectiveness.
“Struggling. It’s his third pitch,” Bianco said. “We seem to throw it two to three, four, five times a game and it’s just kind of hit or miss.”
Regardless Rivas has Bianco’s vote of confidence after two SEC weekends and getting the opportunity to help seal the deal on a series if Dougherty and the Rebels can get the job done on Fridays, starting this weekend at Texas A&M.
Ole Miss (15-9, 0-6 SEC) and Texas A&M (15-10, 1-5) start their series tonight at 6 p.m. CT on SEC Network+. Saturday’s game is set for a 7 p.m. CT first pitch and will air on SEC Network with Sunday’s finale scheduled for 1 p.m. CT on SECN+.
