Tennessee baseball is making a Friday starter pitching change before Arkansas series. Here's why.

Tony Vitello wanted to wait until Wednesday to get Tennessee baseball's pitching rotation organized before its series at Arkansas.

The result is a change for the first time this season.

The Vols will start junior Andrew Lindsey on Friday (8 p.m. ET, SEC Network) in Fayetteville, as the former Charlotte starter makes his weekend debut with UT. The rest of the rotation for No. 12 Tennessee (23-10, 5-7 SEC) is listed as TBA at No. 6 Arkansas (26-7, 8-4).

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Why Andrew Lindsey is starting for Tennessee on Friday

The Vols entered the season with their entire weekend rotation returning, putting massive expectations on the arms of Chase Dollander, Chase Burns and Drew Beam. Dollander and Burns have had rocky starts to their seasons, while Beam has been the most consistent and reliable.

Tennessee has a host of options behind the trio, including Lindsey. Lindsey did not pitch in 2022, but was 6-2 with a 4.89 ERA in 2021 for Charlotte. The New Johnsonville, Tennessee, native struck out 76 in 81 innings as a weekend starter after transferring from Walters State. UT also has Seth Halvorsen and Camden Sewell as top options to start a game. Halvorsen, a former starter at Missouri, has been a valuable bullpen arm. Sewell is arguably UT's best option to close games.

The Vols had to make a change prior to Arkansas, however, in the wake of the struggles displayed by Dollander and Burns. Dollander has been UT's No. 1 starter all season, while Burns has served as the No. 2 starter after being the Game 1 guy as a freshman.

Lindsey is getting the first crack at the weekend-opening spot after posting a 2.01 ERA in 12 appearances.

Vitello, the sixth-year Vols coach, could turn to Dollander on Saturday, putting the junior and likely top MLB Draft pick back in the No. 2 spot he excelled in a season ago. Beam should remain the Sunday starter.

Why have Chase Dollander, Chase Burns struggled?

Beam threw a gem last Saturday against Florida, striking out 10 in seven innings to move to 4-1 with a 2.52 ERA. Dollander and Burns haven't experienced such successes in SEC play.

Burns (2-3, 6.10 ERA) has allowed at least five earned runs in four straight starts after not allowing more than four in a start as a freshman. The sophomore was tagged for seven runs in 3⅓ innings against Florida on Friday. Burns has allowed 25 runs in 17⅓ innings in SEC play after allowing 20 runs in 47⅔ conference innings last season.

“A lot of times when guys have success and then it gets derailed at some point … there’s extra problems that are created and it’s almost kind of a you could kind of trim the fat type of thing and get back to who you are and what got you in that position that you’re in like starting on an SEC weekend,” Vitello said of Burns on Friday.

Dollander (4-3, 4.19 ERA) has had comparable woes in allowing 15 runs in SEC play after allowing nine in his conference starts as a sophomore. He did not make it out of the fifth inning for the second straight start Thursday against Florida.

“I think people are just putting good swings on the ball,” catcher Jared Dickey said of Dollander and Burns struggling. “Credit to them for doing that. Obviously, every team that we have played have had some guys. They have been putting the ball in the play. I don’t think anything is wrong with them. I am excited to see what they do this weekend.”

Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on Twitter @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee baseball: Andrew Lindsey new Friday starter vs Arkansas