Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
A baseball lineup! Time to remember what it feels like to overanalyze an order of hitters and call for the manager’s firing!
Another hallmark of the baseball season returned Monday, the Giants posting their first 1-through-9 ahead of their exhibition game at the Coliseum. Kevin Gausman will start for San Francisco, while the A’s will counter with lefty Sean Manaea.
The Giants will trot out vastly different lineups this season against righties and lefties. Brandon Crawford, at home at shortstop, is the only lefty to make the cut in a lineup from which there is not a whole lot to glean:
1. Austin Slater, LF
2. Wilmer Flores, 3B
3. Donovan Solano, 2B
4. Darin Ruf, DH
5. Pablo Sandoval, 1B
6. Mauricio Dubon, CF
7. Brandon Crawford, SS
8. Jaylin Davis, RF
9. Chadwick Tromp, C
Gabe Kapler said last week not to read too much into it. While Tromp, a righty, getting the start at catcher is interesting, Tyler Heineman, a switch-hitter, caught Johnny Cueto in his final tuneup, suggesting the Giants were ensuring the two would work nicely together.
Mauricio Dubon is getting another look at center field, where he figures to patrol often against southpaws as long as he continues to prove the natural infielder can handle it. Wilmer Flores is filling in at third base while Evan Longoria (moderate right oblique strain) heals, with his status still unclear for Opening Day. As is Brandon Belt’s, although even if the first baseman is ready, the Giants might sit the lefty against Clayton Kershaw.
The biggest curiosity to peer too closely at is Jaylin Davis, even against a lefty, so low in the order. Davis has whiffed often in camp, and a righty outfield spot could come down to him and Austin Slater.