College World Series scouting report: A look at Vanderbilt vs. Michigan

Here's a look at the College World Series final, a best-of-three for the national championship that starts Monday night in Omaha, Neb.:

Fast facts

Matchup: Michigan (49-20) vs. Vanderbilt (57-11)

TV schedule: Game 1 – 6 p.m. CT Monday, ESPN; Game 2 – 6 p.m. CT Tuesday, ESPN; Game 3 – 6 p.m. CT Wednesday, ESPN (if necessary)

Game 1 probable starters: Michigan – LHP Tommy Henry (11-5, 3.27 ERA); Vanderbilt — RHP Drake Fellows (13-1, 3.97 ERA)

Scouting Vanderbilt

ABOUT VANDERBILT

Vanderbilt might be the best-hitting team in college baseball. It leads Division I in home runs, ranks second in runs per game and is sixth in batting average. Statistically, this is tied for its best fielding team ever. It has four high-caliber starting pitchers and one of the best closers in the country. It’s hard to find a weakness, but even its most seasoned pitchers have given up a few disastrous innings this postseason. The Commodores are red-hot, posting a 33-3 record over the past 11 weeks and sweeping the SEC regular-season and tournament titles. Their 57 wins is already a program record.

3 VANDERBILT PLAYERS TO WATCH 

RF J.J. Bleday: Golden Spikes Award finalist and No. 4 overall draft pick leads Division I with 26 home runs as one of the most complete hitters in college baseball.

3B Austin Martin: Leadoff man is the SEC batting champion with a .406 average and 86 runs scored, which leads Division I. He hit two home runs in his first game in Omaha.

RHP Kumar Rocker: Hard-throwing freshman tossed the first no-hitter in Super Regional history. His fastball can reach 99 mph, and his slider is nasty.

– Adam Sparks, The Tennessean

Photo gallery: Vanderbilt baseball’s first NCAA championship in 2014

STAT LEADERS

Vanderbilt hitters

RF J.J. Bleday: .354 avg., 26 HR, 70 RBIs, .711 slug pct.

3B Austin Martin: .406 avg., 10 HR, 86 R, 18 SB, .498 obp

SS Ethan Paul: .316 avg., 23 2B, 9 HR, 72 RBIs

Vanderbilt pitchers

RHP Drake Fellows: 13-1, 3.97 ERA, 111 IP, 126 Ks

RHP Kumar Rocker: 11-5, 3.38 ERA, 93 ⅓ IP, 103 Ks

RHP Mason Hickman: 8-0, 2.08 ERA, 90 ⅔ IP, 119 Ks

RHP Patrick Raby: 10-1, 3.04 ERA, 74 IP, 78 Ks

RHP Tyler Brown: 17 SVs, 2.31 ERA, 46 ⅔ IP, 63 Ks

Scouting Michigan

ABOUT MICHIGAN

U-M has advanced to the finals by playing a simple brand of baseball: good pitching, good defense and timely hitting. The Wolverines have been grinding out at-bats and driving in two-out runs to make up for their lack of power. Their starting pitching has carried them, and while that makes for a rested bullpen, it also means the relievers have yet to be tested in the College World Series. The Wolverines, who last advanced to the CWS in 1984, cannot give an inch on the mound, in the field or at the plate. They must continue their grind-it-out approach in all aspects to beat a more talented team. 

3 MICHIGAN PLAYERS TO WATCH 

LHP Tommy Henry: As U-M’s co-ace (with Karl Kauffmann), Henry will have the chance to set a tone as the likely Game 1 starter. Vanderbilt’s offense is tough, but Henry has completed a similar task before, beating No. 1 UCLA on the road in the Super Regionals. The crafty left-hander could prove to be a good match against a team that is comfortable facing fireballers.

RF Jordan Brewer: The Big Ten Player of the Year has been dealing with turf toe since the Big Ten Tournament, and he hasn't really made his presence felt in the College World Series. He is the team’s most powerful bat, and an awakening in the finals would be a big boost to the lineup.

LHP Ben Keizer: U-M has used only three pitchers in the CWS – Henry, Kauffmann and reliever Jeff Criswell – but they'll need a few more pitchers to get big outs against the Commodores. Enter Keizer, the senior lefty who closed out their Super Regional win against UCLA. He is proven and tough, and could be the first reliever not named Criswell to be called upon.

– Anthony Fenech, Detroit Free Press

Photo gallery: Michigan baseball in 2019 College World Series

STAT LEADERS

Michigan hitters

RF Jordan Brewer: .329 avg., 19 2B, 12 HR, 57 RBIs

1B Jimmy Kerr: .278 avg., 15 2B, 14 HR, 62 RBIs

CF Jesse Franklin: .262 avg., 14 2B, 13 HR, 54 RBIs

Michigan pitchers

LHP Tommy Henry: 11-5, 3.27 ERA, 115 ⅔ IP, 127 Ks

RHP Karl Kauffmann: 12-6, 2.75 ERA, 127 ⅔ IP, 106 Ks

RHP Jeff Criswell: 7-1, 2.60 ERA, 100 ⅓ IP, 109 Ks

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