Sixty-four teams qualify for the NCAA tournament every year – with berths awarded to 31 conference champions and 33 teams at-large.

The Bruins have missed the cut each of the past two seasons, but if they’re hoping to make it this time around, they’ll either have to win their conference or impress the NCAA Division I Baseball Committee.

And while the team will have to wait until Friday for Big Ten action to officially commence, UCLA baseball (9-3) can continue to build its RPI – currently 20th in the nation – when it faces Michigan (6-4) at Jackie Robinson Stadium on Tuesday.

“Our Tuesday games – it’s the best Tuesday schedule in the country,” said coach John Savage. “Our Tuesday starter is going to have some dog fights.”

Michigan will be UCLA’s third Big Ten opponent in nonconference play, the Bruins most recently defeating crosstown rival USC Sunday and previously taking down Michigan State Feb. 23.

Roch Cholowsky was pivotal in both contests – launching two home runs in each game for a total of nine RBIs.

“Michigan is a great team, looking forward to playing them,” the sophomore shortstop said. “They’ve got some great wins this year, and they’re super talented.”

Michigan defeated then-No. 2 Virginia in extra innings on Opening Day but have since lost to then-No. 22 TCU and then-No. 5 Arkansas. Most recently, however, the team took two of three from Long Beach State. Mitch Voit leads the Wolverines with a 1.379 OPS, hitting .421 in 38 at-bats. The infielder/right-hander has yet to appear on the mound this season but threw a complete game in Michigan’s 4-3 win over UCLA last season.

However, the Bruins could be in for a reverse of 2024’s result – largely thanks to a seemingly improved bullpen.

Through 12 games last season, UCLA was 5-7, and pitchers outside of former Bruin Luke Jewett and current junior right-hander Michael Barnett – the team’s only consistent weekend starters – finished the year with a 5.82 ERA. In contrast, pitchers outside of 2025’s weekend rotation have posted a 1.97 ERA across 68.2 innings.

Barnett transitioned to the bullpen ahead of this season and has posted a 3.75 ERA and 1.33 WHIP across 12 innings – tied for the third most on the Bruins.

“We’re feeling great,” Barnett said. “I’m happy to help the team in any capacity that I’m at – starting or relieving. We’re excited to keep it rolling and stay on the gas pedal.”

The Bruins are coming off a stretch of eight games in 10 days – and more recently five games in six days at home. UCLA fell to Arizona State Wednesday and then-No. 14 Vanderbilt Friday for its first losing streak of the year but has since won two games in a row.

Wylan Moss has been the Bruins’ Tuesday starter this season and could take the mound against the Wolverines. The freshman right-hander tossed 24 pitches across two innings in UCLA’s win over UConn Saturday – and previously made the midweek start on short rest against BYU Feb. 18 after throwing 26 pitches three days prior.

However, neither UCLA nor Michigan have announced starting pitchers for Tuesday’s bout.

The Wolverines will be the Bruins’ last nonconference tuneup before heading to Maryland for the beginning of Big Ten action.

“You just got to compress a little bit after today (Sunday’s game against USC) and get ready for the week,” Savage said. “We got Michigan in a nonconference game on Tuesday, and we open up the Big Ten in Maryland this weekend.”