Mississippi State baseball fans can breathe a sigh of relief as the Bulldogs prepare for their crucial SEC series against Auburn. The initial injury report released on May 6 brought some welcome news: starting pitcher Ryan McPherson is not listed on the report for the first time since suffering a forearm strain on March 20 against Vanderbilt.

This marks a significant milestone for the No. 11 Bulldogs (37-12, 14-10 SEC), who have been carefully managing McPherson's recovery. The right-hander's absence from the injury report suggests he could be available to pitch this weekend, though the team has yet to announce the Game 3 starter.

For the series opener, Mississippi State has tabbed Tomas Valincius to take the mound, with Duke Stone set to start Game 2. The Game 3 starter remains listed as TBA, leaving fans speculating whether McPherson might make his return to the rotation.

The only Mississippi State player on the injury report is outfielder Aidan Teel, who is listed as questionable for the Auburn series. With the Bulldogs pushing for postseason positioning, having a healthy McPherson back in the fold could be a game-changer.

As the Bulldogs gear up for this pivotal SEC matchup, fans will be watching closely to see how the pitching rotation shakes out—and whether McPherson's recovery timeline aligns with a return to the mound at Dudy Noble Field.