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Late April is usually an excellent time to pause, take everybody's temperature and see where everybody stands in the Big 12 baseball race. Some teams don't have to worry about getting into the postseason, whereas others have more work remaining.

The Aggies (34-7, 15-3 Big 12) and the Cornhuskers (30-7-1, 13-4-1) are battling for first place, but neither team has a favorable schedule in the final month.

A&M hosts fourth-place Missouri this weekend and will face standout pitcher Aaron Crow. Then the Aggies must face the Huskers in Lincoln from May 9-11. A&M closes the regular season against rival Texas, a wounded group but still dangerous.

Nebraska travels to Baylor this weekend, hosts A&M and closes the year at Missouri.

Bottom line: Nebraska's 8-8 tie against Oklahoma on March 23 will create havoc in the standings at the end.

One team quietly having a spectacular year is Oklahoma State (29-11, 11-7).

Frank Anderson's Cowboys have already won three-game series against A&M and Nebraska. OSU just swept Texas in Austin last week. It was the first time UT has been swept at home in a three-game series since 1996.

OSU has three Big 12 series left, and all three opponents are in the bottom half of the standings – Kansas, Texas Tech and Oklahoma.

Bottom line: If A&M or Nebraska slip, OSU will move on up. Missouri can also cause havoc with a strong finish.

Texas coach Augie Garrido seems perplexed why the Longhorns (24-17, 8-10) can't find their groove. Considering Garrido is giving his freshman pitchers more opportunities, this may go down simply as a retooling season.

Coach Steve Smith has been disappointed with his sophomore bunch's inability to adjust at the plate. The Bears (24-18, 8-10) have a .276 team batting average, second-lowest in the league.

Bottom line: UT and Baylor can still make the NCAAs, but name recognition will get you only so far with the NCAA tournament selection committee.

OU (26-16, 4-10-1) and Texas Tech (20-23, 5-13) are in danger of missing the Big 12 tournament. That's a steep drop for the Sooners, who made the NCAA super regionals last season. Tech has been off track for many years.

Bottom line: Has Tech fallen so far over the years that legendary coach Larry Hays can't bring it back?