2024 College World Series live: Updates, lineups and more for Texas A&M vs. Kentucky
Jun 8, 2024; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats outfielder Ryan Waldschmidt (21) hits a pitch during the sixth inning against the Oregon State Beavers at Kentucky Proud Park. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-USA TODAY Sports
Game 2 of Monday's College World Series action is arguably the best matchup we could ask for as No. 2 Kentucky takes on No. 3 Texas A&M. Each team won their first game of the College World Series, but only narrowly.
Kentucky escaped with a 5-4 extra-inning win over NC State, while Texas A&M managed a 3-2 victory over Florida, and they needed a home run robbery in the ninth to get that done. Both teams will need to be at their best, not only to win tonight's game, but also if they want a chance against No. 1 Tennessee, who has already recorded their second win of the tournament, a monster 6-1 rout over No. 4 North Carolina.
Texas A&M holds a 13-8 all-time record against Kentucky. The Aggies also won the most recent series between these schools in 2023.
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No matter what happens tonight, each team is guaranteed at least one more game. The loser will go on to play Florida in an elimination game tomorrow night. The winner will be given an immediate path to the CWS semifinals. There's a lot riding on tonight's matchup.
Here's everything you need to know.
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Texas A&M vs. Kentucky: TV, time, streaming and how to watch
- Date: Monday, June 17
- Time: 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT
- Cable TV: ESPN
- Streaming: ESPN+, fuboTV, YouTube TV
Texas A&M lineup:
- 3B Gavin Grahovac
- RF Jace LaViolette
- C Jackson Appel
- DH Hayden Schott
- 1B Ted Burton
- LF Caden Sorrell
- SS Ali Camarillo
- 2B Kaeden Kent
- CF Travis Chestnut
The Aggies' starting pitcher will be southpaw Ryan Prager, who boasts an impressive 8-1 record and 3.10 ERA through 17 games this year.
Kentucky lineup:
- LF Ryan Waldschmidt
- 2B Emilien Pitre
- C Devin Burkes
- DH Nick Lopez
- 3B Mitchell Daly
- 1B Ryan Nicholson
- CF Nolan McCarthy
- RF James McCoy
- SS Grant Smith
Kentucky will put junior Mason Moore on the bump. Moore has recorded a 9-3 record and 4.93 ERA across 17 games started this season.
How did Kentucky get here?
Kentucky entered the Regionals as the nation's No. 2 seed. They hosted a regional and made quick work of Western Michigan (10-8), Illinois (6-1), and Indiana State (5-0) to advance to the Super Regionals. Despite being matched up against a very tough Oregon State team in the Super Regionals, Kentucky made short work of the Beavers, winning both games by a combined 11 runs.
That brought the Wildcats to Omaha, where their first matchup was against NC State. Kentucky may have needed extra innings to defeat the Wolfpack, but they got the job done. Now, they head into tonight's matchup against Texas A&M without elimination on the line. Still, an immediate path to the CWS semifinals is more than enough motivation to push Kentucky to a win.
How did Texas A&M get here?
The Texas A&M Aggies, much like Kentucky, have yet to lose since the Regionals. A&M hosted a regional and were only ever really given trouble from Texas, who A&M managed to beat 4-2 in 11 innings, thanks to a Ted Burton RBI single. Since then though, the Aggies have been nearly untouchable, outscoring their next three opponents 34-19, including two wins over Oregon.
Texas A&M's pitching has been a little suspect as of late. However, the Aggies may have figured something out between the Super Regionals and the College World Series. In their first game in Omaha, against Florida, the Aggies surrendered only two runs, and while their offense was unable to get going, they didn't need much to secure the win.
College World Series bracket: Remaining Schedule
Elimination games will be denoted with an asterisk (*). Away teams listed first. All times Eastern.
Monday, June 17
- Game 8: Texas A&M vs. Kentucky, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, June 18
- *Game 9: Florida State vs. North Carolina, 2 p.m.
- *Game 10: Florida vs. Loser of Game 8, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, June 19
- Game 11: Winner of Game 9 vs. Tennesee, 2 p.m.
- Elimination game for Game 9 winner
- Game 12: Winner of Game 10 vs. Winner of Game 8, 7 p.m.
- Elimination game for Game 10 winner
Thursday, June 20
Times TBD.
- Bracket 1 final: Only necessary if Game 9 winner beats Tennessee in Game 11
- Bracket 2 final: Only necessary if Game 10 winner beats Game 8 winner
Men's College World Series Finals
Best-of-three series between Bracket 1 winner and Bracket 2 winner.
- Game 1: Saturday, June 22, 7:30 p.m.
- Game 2: Sunday, June 23, 2 p.m.
- Game 3 (if necessary): Monday, June 24, 7 p.m.
Texas A&M vs. Kentucky: Odds, spread and lines for College World Series
The Texas A&M Aggies are favored to win Monday's game, according to the BetMGM college baseball odds. Looking to wager? Check out the best mobile sports betting apps offering 2024 sports betting promos.
Odds listed as of Monday afternoon.
- Spread: Texas A&M (-1.5)
- Moneyline: Texas A&M (-145); Kentucky (+110)
- O/U: 8.5
Texas A&M vs. Kentucky predictions:
Ryan Black, The Courier-Journal: Texas A&M 5, Kentucky 3
Black writes, "The Wildcats have kept finding ways to win since the NCAA Tournament started. But the Aggies will be their toughest test to date. By a considerable margin. Texas A&M owns a top-10 offense and top-10 defense, per numerous statistical categories. And if the Aggies get the ball in the hands of superstar reliever Evan Aschenbeck, it's game over."
Sascha Paruk, Sports Betting Dime: Aggies to win
Paruk writes, "The Aggies have scored considerably more runs this year, with 543 in 63 games (8.7 RPG), compared to UK at 476 in 60 games (7.9 RPG). Prager’s abominable start last week will be a big concern for the Aggie faithful, but he’s had ample time to rest and recuperate and I expect a much higher quality outing from the 59th-ranked prospect in the 2024 MLB draft."
Collin Wilson, Action Network: Under 9.5 runs
Wilson writes, "This game's main avenue for runs is defensive errors. Both the Aggies and Wildcats rank top-35 nationally in fielding percentage, and with an ace on the mound in Prager, this should be one of the lower-scoring games in Omaha."
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