Baylor (19-16, 4-8)

Offense – 2

Outside of a 22-1 thrashing of Texas Southern last month, Baylor’s offense has been relatively tame. In 35 games this season, Baylor is averaging 6.2 runs a game. Only Kansas State is worse in the Big 12, averaging 5.9 runs a game. Counting their 22-run outing, the Bears have scored in double-digits eight times, but just once during Big 12 play. It hasn’t helped that Baylor’s leading hitter, shortstop Beamer Weems, hasn’t played in more than a week because of a hamstring injury. Weems leads the Bears with a .328 batting average, 40 hits, nine doubles, four home runs, 67 total bases, and a .549 slugging percentage. Outfielder Aaron Miller is close behind with a .322 average, 38 hits, two home runs, 61 total bases and a .517 slugging percentage. He leads the team with nine doubles, 32 RBI and a .428 on-base percentage.

Pitching – 3

Baylor’s lack of production on offense has put added pressure on the pitching staff and the results have been mixed. Baylor hasn’t allowed more than eight runs to non-conference opponents, but it has allowed double-digit runs to Big 12 opponents four times, including all three games of its series with Oklahoma State. In their four conference wins, the Bears are allowing only 3.5 runs per game, but in their eight losses, they’re allowing 9.6 runs per game. Of Baylor’s weekend starters, only Kendal Volz (4-1) has a winning record. However, he has the worst ERA of the three at 5.35. Jeff Mandel (4-5) and Randal Linebaugh (2-4), Baylor’s other weekend starters, have 4.32 and 4.65 respective ERAs. Nick Cassavechia is the man out of the bullpen with a 2.28 ERA, .230 BAA and six saves. He also has 36 strikeouts to merely four walks.

Momentum – 2.5

Baylor didn’t put on a very impressive show Tuesday night, but the Bears enter Lawrence after a fairly successful five-game home stand where it went 3-2. Last weekend, Baylor took two of three from a ranked Oklahoma squad for its second Big 12 series victory. However, on Tuesday, Baylor left 12 men on base and lost 6-3 to TCU. Since the beginning of conference play, Baylor has been swept every other weekend. Given that trend, the Bears are due to get swept again this weekend. One cause for Baylor’s inconsistent play has been injury problems. Three starters – Aaron Miller, Beamer Weems and Raynor Campbell – have battled injuries all season and Weems and Campbell have been in and out of the lineup as a result.

What’s at Stake?

This series pits the Big 12’s cellar dwellers against one another, but doesn’t necessarily feature the two worst teams in the conference. Both Baylor and Kansas are talented, young teams that are coming into their own after navigating tough early Big 12 schedules. Both have already played No. 6 Texas and No. 15 Oklahoma State. Baylor has played No. 23 Oklahoma and Kansas has played No. 16 Texas A&M and No. 25 Missouri. The team that’s grown up the most will get out of last place in the conference.

Star Watch

Freshman outfielder Aaron Miller has already stepped up as a leader for the Bears. Despite battling a groin injury, he hasn’t missed a game all season. A cog in Baylor’s lineup, he is near the top of every offensive category for the Bears and leads the team with 32 RBI and a .428 on-base percentage. In high school, Miller predominantly pitched and played first base, but he’s flourishing as a full-time outfielder for Baylor with only two errors this season.

Question Mark

The biggest question for Baylor this weekend is whether its middle infield will be intact. Starting shortstop Beamer Weems hasn’t played since April 3 because of a hamstring injury. That same day, starting second baseman Raynor Campbell re-aggravated his hamstring injury and, although he played last weekend, he was out of the lineup on Tuesday.

5 Quick Facts

2 – The number of times Baylor has been swept out of four Big 12 series this season.

9 – The number of teams in the conference with a better team batting average than Baylor’s .277 average.

20 – The number of triples by the Bears offense, which leads the conference.

251 – The number of strikeouts by Baylor pitchers, which ranks eighth in the conference.

286 – The number of strikeouts by Baylor hitters, which ranks last in the conference.

Top Five Hitters

Beamer Weems: .328 ave.; 21 runs; 40 hits; 4 HR; 28 RBI

Aaron Miller: .322 ave.; 20 runs; 38 hits; 2 HR; 32 RBI

Chase Gerdes: .288 ave.; 27 runs; 32 hits; 3 HR; 21 RBI

Ben Booker: .278 ave.; 25 runs; 32 hits; 1 HR; 18 RBI

Raynor Campbell: .322 ave.; 20 runs; 28 hits; 2 HR; 14 RBI

Top Five Pitchers (an extra category for saves would be swell, just put “--“ for pitchers without saves)

Nick Cassavechia: 3-1 W-L; 2.28 ERA; 23.2 IP; 36 SO; 4 BB; 6 saves

Jeff Mandel: 4-5 W-L; 4.32 ERA; 58.1 IP; 54 SO; 19 BB

Randal Linebaugh: 2-4 W-L; 4.65 ERA; 50.1 IP; 31 SO; 20 BB

Kendal Volz: 4-1 W-L; 5.35 ERA; 37 IP; 26 SO; 9 BB

Wade Mackey: 1-0 W-L; 1.65 ERA; 27.1 IP; 18 SO; 9 BB

—Shawn Shroyer