These LSU Tigers stars have had cold starts to their 2026 season, but they should be able to snap out of it.
The LSU Tigers are off to a 7-0 start this year, which is a new best under head coach Jay Johnson.
It has mostly been the dominant offensive performances that have carried the Tigers to that start. They've had the worst ERA in the SEC for much of the year.
That isn't anything to really worry about so early in the year, because it is a roster brimming with talent all over. Some big arms are going to step up soon and complement the stars who have already stood out this season.
Through the first seven games of the year, these are the LSU players who won't let their slow starts define their seasons:
SP Casan Evans
Evans is someone who has been talked about a lot early as a disappointing player through his first two starts, but it's been a bit misleading. He's pretty much had two bad innings, and it has inflated his numbers.
The sophomore has a 6.48 ERA in 8.1 innings of work. He's allowed nine hits, six earned runs and walked four while picking up 11 strikeouts. Only one of the hits has gone for extra bases, and it was a double. He hasn't pitched perfectly, but he's also gotten a bit unlucky.
His fastball lives in the mid-90s, and he has a great changeup. Once he settles in, he should be a good starter. It'll be interesting to see what Johnson's leash is for him on Friday nights.
CF Derek Curiel
Not only is Curiel slated to be one of the best players on the Tigers, but one of the best in the entire country. He was one of the top candidates for the Golden Spikes Award entering the year, but he will have to get hot if he wants to stay in the field.
The sophomore isn't even having an awful start to the year or anything, but he definitely has room to improve. He's the only everyday starter not hitting above .300 right now.
Curiel is currently slashing .276/.361/.310. LSU will be relying on far better than a .671 OPS from him to get them through SEC play. Luckily, though, they have had more than enough offense to make up for it so far.
RHP Grant Fontenot
Fontenot is a big piece of this bullpen and is going to need to settle in. He was called on to get the last out of the second game of the season and picked up a save, but it hasn't been as smooth sailing since.
He gave up three hits and two runs in 0.1 innings against the Kent State Golden Flashes. He then pitched an inning against the Indiana Hoosiers and gave up two unearned runs on two hits with a walk.
The fifth-year senior has a fastball that can touch 99 and a promising slider, but he has to put it all together. He had a 7.20 ERA in 6 appearances last season.