UPDATE: UCLA will start right-handed pitcher Cody Poteet today against Cal State Bakersfield. The junior was the Bruins’ midweek starter most of this season, and has a 6-1 record to go with his 2.65 ERA.

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After losing to Maryland, 4-1, on Saturday night, UCLA baseball needs to win three straight games to advance and host an NCAA Super Regional. For a team that entered the field as the No. 1 overall seed, it’s not where the Bruins expected to be.

The key decision looming for John Savage, recently named Pac-12 Coach of the Year for the first time, will be managing his deep pitching staff. With regular Sunday starter Griffin Canning sidelined for the postseason by a stress fracture in his back, Savage has not yet decided who to start against Cal State Bakersfield.

Throwing out the 4 p.m. first pitch against the Roadrunners could be Hunter Virant (0-1, 3.28), Cody Poteet (6-1, 2.65), or Grant Dyer (4-1, 1.86). Should it win, UCLA will also need to play 8 p.m. games on both Sunday and Monday against Maryland to win the NCAA Regional. The Bruins could potentially use star pitcher James Kaprielian on short rest in a third game against the Terrapins.

“We’ll make those decisions,” Savage said. “Our bullpen is in good shape. They’ll be extended a little bit. We have to get good quality starts tomorrow. I’m not worried about that. We just have to get back on our feet and play Bruin baseball and that’s what we’re focused on.”

Dyer, UCLA’s regular set-up man, only pitched one inning on Friday, while fellow reliever Tucker Forbes threw 1.1 on Saturday. The two will very likely combine for more significant action the rest of the regional.

Closer David Berg, fifth on the team with 62.2 innings pitched this season, is also capable of multiple-inning appearances if necessary.