The Michigan baseball team doesn't get opportunities like this very often.
The Wolverines (7-3 Big Ten, 18-12 overall) have a four-game homestand this weekend starting today at 3 p.m. against ninth-place Northwestern (3-5, 7-20). Tomorrow the two teams play a doubleheader (1 p.m.), and a single game on Sunday (1 p.m.) closes out the weekend series.
"I think we have a real good chance of sweeping them," Michigan pitcher Brian Steinbach said. "We just have to play well and not beat ourselves."
The struggling Wildcats arrive at Fisher Stadium having notched two of their three conference victories last weekend against conference cellar-dweller Michigan State. The Spartans are tied with the Wildcats for ninth in the Big Ten.
Except for a 16-run explosion last Sunday, the Northwestern bats have been relatively silent lately. The Wildcats managed a total of just 19 runs in the six games prior to last Sunday.
Steinbach - Michigan's ace - will start the series opener this afternoon. With a 4.81 ERA, the junior righthander is slated to square off against Chris Hargan, a righty who is 2-4.
Sophomore righthander J.J. Putz, the second man in the Michigan pitching rotation, would ordinarily start Saturday's first game. However, tenderness in his throwing arm will prevent him from pitching, according to Michigan baseball coach Geoff Zahn.
"Right now (Bryan) Cranson is going to pitch the second game," Zahn said. "He came in for J.J. in Minnesota and did fantastic. Every time out we've asked him to come into tight situations, he's gotten guys out.
"He certainly deserves this start."
Cranson, a freshman, captured his first conference victory last weekend in relief against then-undefeated Minnesota. Northwestern righthander Brad Brasser, 3-3 with a 4.68 ERA, is scheduled to start for the Wildcats opposite Cranson.
Sophomores Pete Martay (2-0) and Ryan Kelley (1-3) are scheduled to start in the final two games of the weekend, and will probably face Northwestern hurlers Mike Koplove (1-2) and Charlie Williamson (1-4).
With the week-to-week status of Putz (37 strikeouts in 38 1/3 innings), the Wolverines will need more of their young pitching staff to step-up in his place.
"Bryan Cranson and Pete Martay have to pitch well," Steinbach said. "Also Brian Berryman has to pitch well, if he can get into the game."
Berryman is 2-2 and has been one of the more reliable members of Michigan's bullpen.