The University of Kentucky baseball team opens an eight-game home stand Friday with the opener of a three-game series against Arkansas at Cliff Hagan Stadium.

Arkansas, ranked No. 14 by Baseball America, enters the weekend in second place in the Southeastern Conference's Western Division at 30-15 overall and 13-7 in league play.

No. 23 Kentucky (26-17, 9-12) is fourth in the SEC East.

The top 12 teams in the 14-team league advance to the SEC Tournament to be held May 21-26 in Hoover, Ala.

The Wildcats will change their pitching rotation for the first time this season. Sophomore left-hander A.J. Reed (2-5, 2.88 ERA) will make his 12th series-opening start of the year on Friday. UK will send freshman right-hander Kyle Cody (3-2, 5.49 ERA) to the mound on Saturday for his first career SEC start. Junior lefty Corey Littrell (5-3, 3.22 ERA) will start on Sunday.

Arkansas will counter with junior right-hander Barrett Astin (3-2, 2.02 ERA), junior right-hander Ryne Stanek (5-1, 1.60 ERA) and senior lefty Randall Fant (4-1, 2.34 ERA).

The 6-foot-7 Cody takes the place of Jerad Grundy, who has been the Cats' middle-game starter in most of its SEC series this season. UK has lost the middle game in five consecutive SEC series.

UK is led at the plate by freshman outfielder Kyle Barrett, who has hit .347 with four doubles, 11 RBI and four steals. First baseman A.J. Reed has hit .310 with eight doubles, two triples, 10 homers and 46 RBI.

Arkansas is led by one of the NCAA's top pitching staffs, owning a 1.78 team ERA and limiting opponents to a .199 batting average.

Sophomore outfielder Brian Anderson, who has hit .316 with nine doubles, two triples, two homers and 26 RBI, is the team's top offensive threat.

Arkansas leads the all-time series with UK, 33-22, including a 13-11 mark in Lexington. UK has won its past two series against the Razorbacks.

Following this weekend's Arkansas series, the Cats play home games against Wright State (May 7), Vanderbilt (May 10-12) and Indiana (May 14).

No. 14 Arkansas at No. 23 UK

Friday: 6:30 p.m. (Fox Sports South, CWKYT-27.2, WLAP-AM 630)

Saturday: 7 p.m. (Fox Sports South, CWKYT-27.2, WLAP-AM 630)

Sunday: 1 p.m. (WLAP-AM 630)

SEC standings

Eastern Division SEC All

Vanderbilt 19-2 39-6

South Carolina 13-8 33-12

Florida 12-9 25-20

Kentucky 9-12 26-17

Missouri 7-14 15-25

Tennessee 6-15 18-25

Georgia 4-16 16-28

Western Division SEC All

LSU 16-5 40-6

Arkansas 13-7 30-15

Alabama 11-9 27-18

Mississippi 11-10 32-14

Mississippi State 10-11 33-13

Texas A&M 7-13 23-22

Auburn 7-14 25-18

This weekend's series

Arkansas at Kentucky

Georgia at Tennessee

Florida at LSU

Mississippi at Auburn

Vanderbilt at South Carolina

Alabama at Mississippi State

Missouri at Texas A&M