After a 1-2 showing at Evansville and a rain filled week, the SIU baseball team is back home for a two-game set with Valparaiso.

In their two-game series with the Crusaders at Abe Martin Field, the Salukis will have a few extra pitchers at their disposal.

After Tuesday’s game against Missouri was rained out, freshman pitcher Tyler Choate’s spot in the rotation was skipped. He could be available if SIU (21-8, 4-2) needs him out of the bullpen.

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Although Choate will start at first base this weekend, he hasn’t pitched since March 31 and has a 3.50 ERA along with a 2-1 record.

Junior Shawn Joy will also miss his start because senior Jordan Powell and sophomore Cody Adams are bumped back a day. Joy could be available out of the bullpen as well.

Saluki coach Dan Callahan said Joy might be one of the first guys out of the bullpen this weekend.

“If a situation warrants that we need him, that’s fine, but if not, he’ll probably pitch Tuesday,” Callahan said.

Joy has a 2-1 record with a 2.33 ERA, which leads the team.

Should SIU need late-inning help, it can count on freshman closer Bryant George and junior Ian Reinhart, as both pitchers have an ERA below 2.20.

Reinhart said he’s looking forward to getting back on the field despite the weather.

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“Pitchers love warm weather and I’d much rather pitch with 105 degree weather as opposed to the cold temperatures this weekend,” Reinhart said. “But we got to do our job and deal with the adverse conditions.”

Valparaiso has experienced similar weather problems to SIU with games against Butler and the Fort Wayne Wizards being rained out, and was 5-15 heading into Thursday’s double-header with Robert Morris (Ill.).

The Crusaders will send Harvey Yergin to the mound Friday. Yergin is 0-4 in six starts with a 5.00 ERA. Nick Mazzone and Elliot Gibbs could also grab a start for Valparaiso – Mazzone is 1-3 with a 3.52 ERA while Gibbs is 1-2 with a 4.79 ERA.