Pitching has been the constant for streaky Arizona Wildcats entering Pac-12 play

As he prepared for Arizona’s first Pac-12 series of 2018, Wildcats coach Jay Johnson faced a dilemma: Whom would he bring on the trip?

You can dress 27 players for league road games, eight fewer than what’s allowed for home and non-conference games. As he pondered his roster, Johnson realized he had too many trustworthy pitchers to choose from — an unexpected but welcome development.

Arizona had an up-and-down preseason, culminating in a five-game winning streak and a 10-6 record heading into this weekend’s series at Washington. Pitching — thought to be the Wildcats’ possible weakness — has been the constant.

Arizona has yet to allow more than five runs in a game. Entering Thursday night, the Wildcats ranked second in the Pac-12 and eighth in the country with a 2.29 ERA. Last year’s team finished with a 4.36 ERA.

“They’ve done a great job of putting us in position to win,” Johnson said. “It speaks to the job they’re doing of throwing strikes, pitching down in the zone and limiting free bases. We’re very pleased with that. If we continue to do that, it will give us good opportunities to be successful going forward.”

Several factors account for the staff’s turnaround. Atop the list: an infusion of talent.

Newcomers such as Avery Weems (3.38 ERA), Jonathan Guardado (2.08), Josh Haley (2.45) and Gil Luna (2.84) have given the Wildcats quality innings and supplemented a returning corps of improved veterans. Junior right-hander Michael Flynn has the worst ERA among that group at 3.18. He’s also 2-0 and has limited opponents to a .183 batting average.

Johnson also credited pitching coach Dave Lawn for “helping guys evolve and maximize their success.”

“Baseball, more than any other sport, is about confidence and belief in yourself,” Johnson said. “We’ve got a lot of guys pitching with confidence and believing in themselves right now.”

Friday-night starter Cody Deason leads that brigade. He’s 2-0 with a 1.03 ERA and has allowed only 14 hits in 26 1/3 innings.

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Sophomore left-hander Randy Labaut has a 2.08 ERA and has walked just two batters in 26 frames. Relievers Robby Medel, Juan Aguilera, Tylor Megill and Preston Price have a collective ERA of 1.20 across 27 appearances and 30 innings.

“They’ve been ready to execute on the first pitch,” Johnson said of his bullpen. “The last week and a half, they’ve gotten us out of trouble.”

Arizona outscored San Diego State, North Dakota State and Arizona State 52-15 over the past five games. But there were some perilous moments.

Against ASU on Tuesday, Price entered for Weems in the bottom of the fifth with two outs, two on and Arizona leading 5-2. Price struck out the next batter, pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings and earned his first win. Megill allowed only one baserunner over the final two frames to record his fourth save.

Arizona’s staff generally pitches to contact, averaging 6.9 strikeouts per nine innings and relying on a defense that also has taken a step forward. The Wildcats rank third in the Pac-12 with a .976 fielding percentage. They have allowed eight unearned runs in 16 games. Last year, they surrendered 50 in 59.

Arizona’s pitching and defense have allowed its slow-starting lineup to find its footing. The Wildcats have worked their way up to third in the conference in runs (97) and on-base percentage (.383) after ranking at or near the bottom in those and other offensive categories through their first 11 games.

“This team’s very talented,” Deason said. “When we figure it out and put it together … it’s going to be fun.”

Inside pitch

• Johnson is hopeful that junior catcher Cesar Salazar will be able to play this weekend after missing the past two-plus games. Salazar suffered a bruised arm after getting hit with a foul tip and had to exit the second game of the New Mexico State series Saturday. Salazar, who has a team-best .357 batting average, made the trip to Seattle. He could serve as the DH if he’s still unable to catch.
• Arizona is 8-0 at home, 2-6 on the road or on neutral fields. The Wildcats beat the Sun Devils in Phoenix on Tuesday, and Johnson has been emphasizing the point that “good baseball travels. … Strike-zone pressure, quality at-bats and great defense travel.”
• Johnson watched Washington (7-8) in person at the Pac-12/Big Ten Challenge in Minneapolis, where the Huskies won two of three games. The Wildcats lost all three, each by one run. After beating Michigan State and Michigan to open that tournament, Washington has lost five of six.
• Johnson has a set of criteria for quality at-bats, and he said UA had at least 25 in each of its past four games. The Wildcats averaged fewer than 16 during the Pac-12/Big Ten Challenge.
• Arizona had an RPI of 75 entering Thursday night. Six teams in what looks like a loaded Pac-12 were higher, led by 12-4 Oregon at No. 7. Oregon State, which is ranked No. 1 by Baseball America and D1Baseball.com, ranks 34th in RPI.
• Deason is scheduled to start Friday night. Flynn and Labaut “most likely” will pitch Saturday and Sunday, Johnson said.