FORT WORTH — Junior right-hander Jake Eissler will get the pitching start for TCU in Saturday’s game at Long Beach State, and Jared Janczak’s next start will be pushed back until Tuesday.
The switch was prompted by two reasons:
Eissler has been outstanding in his three previous appearances, all in relief. He has pitched 14 innings and allowed only six hits while striking out 13. Opponents are batting .128 against him.
Janczak, on the other hand, has continued to struggle as he tries to regain his rhythm after two surgeries in the past year.
There is nothing physically that appears to be hurting Janczak, coach Jim Schlossnagle said. The senior from Belton just hasn’t been able to find his old delivery. He has started three games this season, walking eight and giving up eight hits and nine runs in eight innings.
Janczak was a Big 12 first-team all-conference selection in 2017 and was named a second-team All-America choice by several publications.
“All this stuff they have in the big leagues now – TrackMan and all those machines that measure everything, like release height, spin rates and extension,” Schlossnagle said. “His numbers show that he is 5-6 inches lower in arm slot and he’s releasing ball a foot shorter towards home plate than he was when he was healthy.
“So he’s basically underneath the baseball. He’s a sinker pitcher, but instead of sinking the ball, he’s cutting the ball.”
Janczak needs more work in the bullpen, the coaching staff has decided, and it’s best that his progress, for the time being, is measured on Tuesdays instead of the weekend series. Janczak’s start Tuesday will be against San Diego.
Eissler will start the second game of the weekend series at Long Beach.
“We’re doing that because he’s pitching so well,” Schlossnagle said, “and it will also give Janczak nine days to get in the bullpen with Kirk [Saarloos], and work on some things.
“That’s the reason why it was so huge today with Matt Rudis. With Eissler starting, it takes a huge reliever out of our bullpen. We need somebody to pick up Eissler’s innings, and hopefully one of these young guys can.”
