Who says you need a dominant pitcher to be successful?
It's 10 games into the season, and 12 different pitchers have already made an appearance on the mound for the Gators (8-2). No starter has completed more than five innings in a single game, a trend that could continue this weekend against Brown.
Josh Edmondson and Billy Bullock lead the team with 10 1/3 innings pitched, yet neither has made a start.
Entering the season, UF coach Kevin O'Sullivan said that without a true ace, the Gators would have to depend on the depth of its pitching staff.
He wasn't kidding. Even center fielder Matt den Dekker, who is batting .310 with two home runs, started Tuesday night's game against Campbell with mixed results.
"We only have 11 arms, so we're going to have to recycle in and out," O'Sullivan said. "Over the course of the year, we may have seven or eight guys get starts. It depends on who's available on a Tuesday after a (Southeastern Conference) weekend."
O'Sullivan is hoping this strategy will keep pitchers as fresh as possible for weekend games and as the Gators get closer to the postseason. In his estimation, a few innings here and there from someone like den Dekker may result in some extra wins later.
"At some point, he might save some innings for some other guys and they can play on the weekend," O'Sullivan said of den Dekker. "So he gives up three runs [on Tuesday night], but bottom line: We need him to get out there and save some innings for other guys."
Sophomore Kyle Mullaney (0-1) entered the season as the Gators' Friday night starter, but after two poor performances, it appears that he still has a lot of work to do. The right-hander has an 8.64 ERA and has allowed a team-high three home runs in 8 1/3 innings. Bullock (1-1), who has a 2.61 ERA, will make his first start of the season Friday at 6:30 against the Bears.
"He needs to pitch," O'Sullivan said of Bullock. "We need to get him out there."
Mullaney has kept a good attitude despite losing his spot in the rotation, O'Sullivan said. The sophomore pitched an inning in Wednesday's 15-0 drubbing of Campbell and will be given an opportunity to regain his starting spot.
"He earned the opportunity to start the first game, and he earned the opportunity to start at Miami," O'Sullivan said. "Now that we've found out where we are, we'll go to work a little bit. He'll probably find himself right back in the mix.
"He's a tough kid, he'll be fine."
ADAMS OK: Freshman outfielder Josh Adams is expected to play Friday after missing Wednesday night's game against Campbell with a shoulder injury.
Adams was seen with his shoulder wrapped up during the game.
O'Sullivan said Adams hurt himself during batting practice but that the injury wasn't serious.
