Preview: Michigan Baseball takes hot streak on the road to Minnesota

Kurt Barr of the Michigan Wolverines talks with Noah Miller of the Michigan Wolverines during an NCAA baseball game at Bainton Field in Piscataway, United States, on March 27, 2026. (Photo by Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images

The Michigan Wolverines are one of the hottest teams in the Big Ten after another stellar series last weekend. Michigan swept Maryland on the road last weekend to improve to 30-17 overall and 15-9 in conference play. The Wolverines have now won six series in a row and are 14-4 in those series. This team is on a tear, and the Minnesota Golden Gophers are up next.

Minnesota is 29-18 overall and 10-14 in Big Ten play. Michigan is currently in fifth place in the Big Ten while the Golden Gophers are in 10th.

Minnesota is playing its best baseball of the season right now, having won five of its last six in Big Ten play. The Gophers have won seven of their last nine if you don’t get count UCLA (every Big Ten team that has faced UCLA got swept). Minnesota is playing well right now, so this will be a challenging series.

Players to watch

Minnesota’s lineup isn’t as dangerous as some other teams Michigan has faced, but there are still a few guys to pay close attention to. Infielder/catcher Weber Neels is the most dangerous bat in the lineup, as he leads the team with a .352 batting average and 13 home runs. He has 52 RBIs this season, which is just one shy of leading the team in that category as well.

Charlie Sutherland is the Gopher leading the team in RBIs with 53. He has been a force this season, hitting .324 with 11 homers. Manwhile, Easton Richter’s .258 average doesn’t really match up with Sutherland and Neels, but he does have 12 homers this year.

On the mound, Michigan will likely face Marcus Kruzan, Isaac Morton and Cole Selvig. Kruzan has been the best of Minnesota’s starters this year, as he currently has a 3.13 ERA. He has given up 16 earned runs in 46 innings pitched. Morton has been solid as well, as he has a 3.54 ERA, allowing 21 earned runs in 53.1 innings pitched. Selvig has struggled a bit, but he has had his moments. He has a 5.13 ERA so far this year, allowing 34 earned runs in 59.2 innings pitched.