Things haven’t exactly shaken out the way they’re supposed to for Giants’ rookie Chris Stratton.
Stratton was scheduled to make the third start of his career on Friday evening against Washington, but a rain delay in the nation’s capital ultimately forced a postponement, and the Giants and Nationals rescheduled a double-header for Sunday.
As a result, Giants’ manager Bruce Bochy plans to keep right-hander Jeff Samardzija on regular rest and push Stratton back to Sunday, when he’ll pitch the first game of the split double-header, according to Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area.
Stratton starts first game tomorrow, Moore gets second game. Giants will need spot starter for Stratton next week, either Cain or Suarez.
— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) August 12, 2017
Stratton’s first Major League start came in July against the Detroit Tigers when starter Johnny Cueto was scratched 20 minutes before first pitch with an inner ear infection, and prior to his second start, which came last Saturday evening, the Giants’ ceremony celebrating the 1997 National League West champions extended well past first pitch, altering Stratton’s rhythm.
So when rain forced the Giants and the Nationals to scrap their plans to play on Friday, of course it was Stratton whose turn was up in the rotation.
As a result of having a double-header on Sunday and no off days until Thursday, August 24, San Francisco will need to use a spot starter for Stratton’s turn in the rotation this week. According to Pavlovic, both Matt Cain and Albert Suarez, the team’s long relievers, are options.
Though Samardzija is scheduled to pitch on Saturday, first pitch for the contest was pushed back due to another rain delay.