The Spartans hope Wednesday’s home opener against Eastern Michigan, along with this weekend’s four-game home stand against Illinois will buck that trend and allow the club to get in the full swing of things.

“We always have to have our players in the mind-set of ‘We’re playing,’ so we’re anticipating playing and locked and ready to go,” MSU head coach David Grewe said. “And if on game day, we can’t go, that’s OK. Our players need to show up every day and go to bed every night thinking we’re ready to go. It’s not easy but it makes us tougher.”

The Spartans are set to play their Big Ten opener on Friday, two games on Saturday and then a final game on Sunday — all at Oldsmobile Park in Lansing, home of the Lansing Lugnuts.

“They do a great job down there and have the whole grounds crew and tarps and stuff so hopefully that will help,” said Saturday’s starting pitcher Mark Sorensen.

After playing its first 15 games in South Carolina, Louisiana, Texas and Florida, MSU had three games against Oakland last weekend postponed.

“Just getting out there and pitching competitively in a game is the biggest thing,” said Mike Monterey, who will start on the mound Friday.

“We can play catch or throw bullpen whenever we want, but the biggest thing is doing the real thing. You can go in a bullpen and work on hitting spots, but when you’re out there in a game, it’s a totally different atmosphere.”

The Spartans face the Illini for the only time this season after splitting four games with them in the last weekend of last year’s regular season.

“What it comes down to is we just have to step up play some consistent baseball,” Grewe said. “They’re going to be right here with everybody else in the Big Ten. It’s a huge weekend to start with. Every weekend in the Big Ten is really important because you’re going to beat up on each other and the best teams are the teams that can take care of business and win close ball games.”

With the weekend weather forecast looking to be in the low- to mid-40’s, the Spartans would be forced to do everything they can in the chilly weather.

“In these type of environments when it’s not ideal or 70 degrees out, you just have to have some clutch hits and that’s how you win close ball games,” Grewe said. “When you win close ball games, that’s how you win series.”