Why Georgia Tech series will tell if Florida State is a legitimate postseason threat

No. 5 Florida State (24-8, 9-3 ACC) hasn’t lost an ACC series yet, but it will face its biggest test on the road when they travel to face the No. 3 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (27-5, 12-3 ACC). Georgia Tech is coached by former Nole James Ramsey who has quickly built them into an offensive powerhouse.

FSU has two ACC series wins over top 10 teams, including Wake Forest, NC State (both have since fallen off since playing FSU), and Virginia last week. The strength of the FSU team is its weekend starting pitching. Wes Mendes, Trey Beard, and Bryson Moore have each won ACC Pitcher of the Week honors this year (Moore won it last week against his former team).

If FSU makes a long run in the postseason, most analysts believe it’ll be because of its starting pitching, because the offense is serviceable without Myles Bailey in the lineup. The Noles have struggled to score runs and strike out too much to be near the bottom of the ACC in home runs.

Why Georgia Tech will tell us if FSU is a legitimate postseason threat.  

FSU’s pitching will have to carry FSU if they make a deep postseason run, and Georgia Tech will be the ultimate barometer. The Yellow Jackets hit .359 overall, have 68 home runs, a .478 on-base percentage, and a .636 slugging percentage. They put the ball in play to hit so many home runs, only striking out in 22.5 percent of their at-bats. They also play well defensively, holding a .975 fielding percentage.

Their starting pitching isn’t elite, but it doesn’t have to be with its offense. If the FSU starting pitching can keep this lineup in check, then I’ll believe they can make a legitimate postseason run. Wake Forest and NC State have solid offenses, but Georgia Tech is on a different level.

Thursday’s game will start at 7 p.m. and will air on the ACC Network.