Florida State’s starting rotation, at least for the opening weekend, has been settled. And it shook out as coach Link Jarrett had forecast in recent days.
Junior left-hander Wes Mendes (7-3, 5.42 ERA) will start against James Madison on Friday at 6 p.m. (ACC Network Extra). Mendes had 90 strikeouts in 78 innings in 2025.
Jarrett said Mendes’ “stuff has improved” based on the metrics. But he emphasized Mendes has to be efficient with his pitch count and stay true to his mechanics.
“The pitch mix is noticeable,” Jarrett said. “He's got multiple breaking pitches. The change-up has always been very good. The fastball life has always been very good. His continued growth and additional success will come from repeatability. Can we repeat the mechanics and execute pitches?”
FAU transfer left-hander Trey Beard (7-1, 3.14 ERA) will start in game 2 on Saturday. He was Florida Atlantic’s starter on Fridays and had 118 strikeouts in 86 innings with 32 walks. Beard held hitters to a .199 batting average.
“That change-up is spectacular. It's exceptional,” Jarrett said. “One of the keys to this is that you have a plus secondary pitch that you can command and that you know how to use when you have opportunities to finish hitters and get strikeouts.”
Virginia transfer right-hander Bryson Moore (0-0, 3.44 ERA) will make his debut on Sunday. Moore allowed nine runs in 18.1 innings with 21 strikeouts and eight walks as a sophomore in 2025.
Left-hander Payton Manca is the likely starter for FSU in midweek games.
“We're grooming Manca to start on Tuesday,” Jarrett said. “We all know if you look start to finish at the Tuesday games, this thing is very difficult. If he can grow into that role and shorten the back of those games for us on Tuesdays, it helps that schedule and sets you up for an efficient weekend.”
Fisher at shortstop
Cal Fisher will slide from third base to shortstop this spring. Fisher hit .303 with a .411 on-base percentage in 2025. He had eight home runs, 11 doubles, 37 RBI, 32 runs scored and 26 walks.
“He has been very consistent,” Jarrett said. “His knowledge of what we're doing systematically helps that. His throwing accuracy stands out to me. That was something we saw out of (Alex) Lodise. You have to handle the ground ball but you also have to be very accurate with the throw. He's got a knack for the double play feed and pivot at that position.”
Second base, third base options
While Fisher will be at shortstop and Myles Bailey at first base, Jarrett said he’s not settled on second base and third base. Among the names Jarrett mentioned: Jace Estes, Gabe Fraser, Eli Putnam, Carter McCulley and Noah Sheffield.
He asked the assistant coaches to provide lineups, and Jarrett said they gave him four different ones.
“I’m not there,” Jarrett said. “I know that sounds crazy. I’m going to figure it out.”
Health at catcher improving
Jarrett has lamented the health of FSU’s top catchers, Hunter Carns and Nathan Cmeyla, in the preseason. He indicated both are improving but the question is how to manage their usage on consecutive days, especially considering that FSU didn’t scrimmage for nine innings on back-to-back days in the preseason.
“Everybody could probably go catch nine innings,” Jarrett said. “Now to come back the next day and do it again and to do it again third day and to do it on Tuesday, that's where we have to involve guys.”
Junior college catcher Kaden Frommelt has also been in the mix in the preseason.
Noteworthy
The Marching Chiefs will perform on the field before Friday’s game.
All three games this weekend will stream live on ACC Network Extra.
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