Florida State baseball (36-15, 17-10 ACC) will host the rival Miami Hurricanes (35-15, 15-12 ACC) in a three-game series to conclude the 2026 regular-season slate. FSU could secure a top-four finish and have a first-round bye in the ACC Tournament with a series win.
Miami has a similar record, but has played a much softer schedule overall. FSU has played the fifth-toughest schedule, and Miami’s strength of schedule is No. 68. It’s a matchup that is usually full of energy, and I expect the crowd at Dick Howser to be electric over the next few days.
A Miami player has already engaged in some playful banter about FSU’s ace pitcher, Wes Mendes. It’s a series that Florida State should win, and possibly sweep, if the stars align. Here are five keys to winning the series or possibly sweeping the rival Canes:
FSU starting pitchers must get into the fifth and sixth innings or better
The recipe for wins in ACC play has been quality starts by starting pitchers, combined with no more than 1-2 relievers out of the bullpen, especially in the first two games. We’ll have to see if John Abraham is available(probably not), but only using 3-4 pitchers in the first two games helps provide some margin of error in game three if Bryson Moore doens’t go deep into the game. Â
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FSU batters MUST put the ball in play and avoid a ton of strikeouts
Miami’s defense is atrocious, with a .957 fielding percentage overall. If FSU consistently puts the ball in play, Miami will kick it around and give them some runs. They have 76 errors, and by contrast, Florida State has committed 50.
Florida State batters must get into the Miami bullpen early
Miami has solid starting pitching, but they are all familiar faces the Noles faced last year. They have good stuff and average over a strikeout per inning. FSU can’t afford tons of uncompetitive at-bats that allow their pitchers to get into a groove and coast through the first few innings. Florida State has limited the strikeout lately, but this pitching staff is probably better than the last two ACC opponents.
Florida State can’t strand runners on base
Florida State’s offense has improved overall over the past few weeks, but one thing that stuck out against Clemson was the inability to score once they got runners on base. FSU left a ton of runners on base, and that cost them a sweep in the Clemson series. Miami has a good offense and can score, so every run is valuable in this series.
Florida State needs to win game one at all cost
A game one win sets the tone for the entire series. It gives FSU some confidence, while likely deflating Miami’s. This series will probably have tons of emotion and momentum swings. When FSU wins game one, they’ve won the series every time this year. Only twice have they lost game one and come back to win the series. Â
The first game will start at 6 p.m. on Thursday night and will air on the ACCNX channel.
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