FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas pitcher Ryne Stanek won’t be on the mound when the Razorbacks open their final home series against Auburn on Thursday night.
Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn hopes Stanek will be able to pitch before the series ends, though.
Van Horn said Monday, during a Swatter’s Club meeting, the right-hander is dealing with a sore back that bothered him during his last start against South Carolina. Van Horn wasn’t aware of the injury until after the game and said his status for the three-game series against the Tigers was unknown Monday.
“I guess it was a little bit stiff, bothering him throughout the week,” Van Horn said. “He got loose for the game and threw well, three innings, four innings. I think it just really started tightening up on him to the point where he wasn’t sitting down between innings, trying to stay loose.”
Stanek threw five innings last Friday and was sharp early on. But the sophomore began to struggle in the fourth, allowing three runs. He surrendered two more in the sixth on a home run by catcher Grayson Greiner — the first Stanek had allowed in 69 1/3 innings — before being replaced by reliever Cade Lynch.
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“Hopefully next time we’ll have a little more info and we’ll monitor that,” Van Horn said of Stanek’s back soreness. “He knows that. The guy wants to play and I do appreciate him trying to gut it out.”
Stanek’s back pain means No. 20 Arkansas (34-15, 12-12 in Southeastern Conference) will start Randall Fant (2-2, 4.04 ERA) or D.J. Baxendale (6-3, 3.65 ERA) against Auburn (25-22, 10-14) Thursday night.
Fant threw two innings before being lifted in the third after allowing a run by walking three batters and hitting another. Baxendale cruised through six innings Sunday before running into trouble in the sixth. He allowed four runs on threw 110 pitches.
Van Horn said Baxendale volunteered to start Thursday’s game even though it means he’ll have just three days rest. Arkansas will make a determination regarding Baxendale’s availability today.
“It’s not something that someone with his style would have an issue with at all,” Van Horn said. “When I say his style, it’s not like he’s a power pitcher who throws 125 pitches every time he goes out there. His previous two outings he’s been, I think he was in the 80s and right at 95 or something.
“He’s got a lot of pitches in that arm.”
Van Horn said Stanek (6-3, 2.99 ERA) was receiving treatment on his back Monday and hopes to know more about his availability for the series soon. Stanek will start Saturday’s home finale if he’s ready.
“Sometimes it just takes a little bit of time,” Van Horn said. “The good thing is it’s not an arm issue. There’s nothing wrong with it. He’s just got a little strain or wear and tear on the back. He’ll be all right. I hope he’s ready for the weekend.”