BERKELEY - The Cal baseball team plays its final three home games of the 2017 season this week as the Bears welcome No. 7-ranked and preseason No. 1 TCU to Evans Diamond. The series starts Thursday at 7:05 p.m. and Pac-12 Networks pick up the action beginning Friday with a 7:05 p.m. first pitch. Saturday's home finale is set for a 1:05 p.m. start and will also be televised live by Pac-12 Networks.

Cal will look to build on the momentum of a quality Monday victory over No. 10 Stanford as it wraps up the home slate against another quality opponent. The series will also serve as the final home games for pitchers Akaash Agarwal and Ian Lutz and the duo will be honored with a ceremony before Saturday's game.

PROJECTED STARTERS

Thursday, May 18, 7:05 p.m.
Cal: RHP Joey Matulovich (4-2, 5.05 ERA)
TCU: RHP Jared Janczak (6-0, 2.25 ERA)

Friday, May 19, 7:05 p.m.
Cal: RHP Jared Horn (3-5, 4.81 ERA)
TCU: RHP Brian Howard (7-3, 4.83 ERA)

Saturday, May 20, 1:05 p.m.
Cal: LHP Matt Ladrech (2-2, 4.33 ERA)
TCU: RHP Mitchell Traver (2-1, 5.82 ERA)

LAST TIME OUT
After the Bears put the finishing touches on finals week, Stanford paid a visit to Evans Diamond and the No. 10-ranked Cardinal took the first two games by narrow margins to earn the series win. But, even in those games, Cal had chances to upend its cross-Bay rival and on Monday night, the Bears turned those chances into a victory as Tanner Dodson struck out seven and went 3 for 4 at the plate en route to a 5-3 victory. Junior Erik Martinez pitched the final four innings and didn't allow a run to earn his fourth win of the season. The win was Cal's first over a top-10 team since a three-game sweep of No. 3 Oregon State from March 24-26, 2016.

SCOUTING REPORT: TCU

• Ranked No. 1 in the nation to begin the season, the Horned Frogs come to Berkeley ranked anywhere between No. 6 and 8 depending on the poll this week. TCU started its week with a 6-1 win over UT Arlington on Tuesday in Fort Worth.
• Offensively, TCU brings a patient approach into battle this weekend as the Horned Frogs rank seventh in the nation in walks (278) this year. Austen Wade is the team's leading hitter with a .360 average while Evan Skoug leads the way when it comes to run production with 15 home runs and 53 RBI.
• On the mound, Thursday starter Jared Janczak enters the week with impressive numbers as the owner of a 6-0 record and 2.25 ERA. Brian Howard is projected to get the ball Friday and he leads the squad in starts (14) and wins (7). Fellow right-hander Mitchell Traver is slated for Saturday duty and enters with a 2-1 record and 5.82 ERA.
• Last meeting: This weekend's series will be the first-ever meeting between TCU and Cal.

MR. DO-EVERYTHING
Asked to fill a variety of roles this season, sophomore Tanner Dodson has played a key role in several different spots for the Bears this year. Cal's opening day starter has been a weapon out of the bullpen but returned to a starting role on May 15 against Stanford and struck out a career high seven in just 3.2 innings pitched. At the plate, the Elk Grove, Calif. native is a middle of the order mainstay and is hitting .296 with 13 doubles, three home runs, two triples, 23 RBI and 24 runs scored. Dodson has also seen time in the outfield and has moved into a starting role in center field.

ON DECK
Once the Bears bring the curtain down on their home schedule, they'll take one final Pac-12 trip as Cal heads to Arizona for three games against the Wildcats. That series will run from May 26-28 and all three games will be televised by Pac-12 Networks.