Report: LSU pitcher Riley Cooper's Game 3 availability in question due to illness
LSU pitcher Riley Cooper was not at Game 2 of the College World Series Finals on Sunday as he dealt with a stomach bug. Now as the Tigers prepare to face Florida in a winner-take-all Game 3 on Monday, his status remains up in the air.
“LSU lefty Riley Cooper didn’t leave his hotel room today due to a nasty stomach bug, per source,” ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel reported. “Hopes to be ready to pitch tomorrow in deciding game 3 if needed.”
Cooper pitched the final three innings of LSU’s 4-3 victory against the Gators in Game 1 on Saturday. He allowed just one hit in that time while striking out three batters, including the final two he faced, to earn the win.
Cooper has pitched the third-most innings of any LSU players this season with 60.2. He has posted a 4.30 ERA and ranks fourth on the team with 63 strikeouts.
Given that he just pitched the day before, Cooper wouldn’t have been available to pitch Sunday anyway. The Tigers will hope he can make a speedy recovery as they’ll need as many arms as they can get to avenge Sunday’s 24-4 loss and claim their first national championship since 2009.
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Game 3 between LSU and Florida is set to begin at 7 p.m. ET on Monday and will be televised on ESPN.
Availability of LSU ace Paul Skenes also in question for Game 3
Cooper isn’t the only Tigers pitcher whose status is in question for the deciding game of the College World Series, however. Ace Paul Skenes last pitched Thursday in an elimination game against Wake Forest, and coach Jay Johnson has yet to confirm whether he’ll go Monday.
However, he didn’t rule him out when asked about the situation postgame.
“As I talked about last time, we’ll do a process to figure that out, which we’ll do,” Johnson said.
Skenes has by far been LSU’s top option on the mound this season, and is the projected No. 1 pick in the upcoming MLB Draft. He leads the Tigers with a 1.69 ERA and 209 strikeouts across 122.2 innings pitched in 2023.
Given that he has had a few days of rest, it would seem likely that LSU would want its ace out there. Especially after giving up a CWS-record 24 runs on Sunday in a game the pitching staff is likely eager to forget.
That in mind, the Tigers will hope both Skenes and Cooper can be ready to go Monday night.