Every offseason, the focus around LSU baseball seems to land on the same question. Who will make up the weekend rotation?

But history shows the season doesn’t hinge on having a clean three-man rotation nearly as much as it hinges on one thing: finding a true No. 2 starter.

In this episode, I look at how Jay Johnson has actually managed starting pitching at LSU, why the first month of the season is about evaluation rather than answers, and how LSU’s most successful teams found consistency at the top even when the third spot remained fluid.

I also walk through recent LSU case studies, explain how bullpen roles directly impact rotation decisions, and bring the conversation back to the current staff and why the next few weeks matter so much.

The third starter will evolve. It always does.

The season will hinge on who steps into that No. 2 role.