Is Paul Skenes playing in College World Series Finals Game 3? LSU ace's status and availability, examined

Paul Skenes, the top pitching prospect for the 2023 MLB draft has been an absolute ace by every definition of the word for LSU. With Game 3 of the College World Series Finals being a winner-take-all scenario, could he be forced to play?

According to reports, Paul Skenes will not start today's game, with sophomore Thatcher Hurd taking the mound instead.

Skenes is clearly LSU's best pitcher, but the Tigers do not want to risk starting him on short rest.

Skenes has given everything he had up to this point. Since June 17, he has thrown 243 pitches.

He threw more than 120 in appearances against Tennessee and Wake Forest. Skenes last pitched against the Wake Forest on June 22, when he threw 120 pitches in eight innings.

Will LSU turn to Paul Skenes today?

That means he would be going on four days rest, which is short for any pitcher, and coming off a game with more pitches than any MLB pitcher has tossed this season.

However, if LSU needs a big-game pitcher to keep Florida at bay or to close out the victory, they very well may turn to Skenes late on.