Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
SCOTTSDALE — Johnny Cueto threw about 80 pitches and should have another start before the season begins, comfortably built up for perhaps a six-inning outing his first time through the rotation.
The question is, will that first time be on Opening Day?
Cueto pitched five sim innings at Scottsdale Stadium on Monday morning before Kevin Gausman was set to start that afternoon at Camelback Ranch against the White Sox. They are both lined up as possibilities for April 1 in Seattle, and Gabe Kapler has promised a decision in the coming days about which arm the club will begin with: the highest octane or the most veteran.
Cueto fared well through a series of batters who included Brandon Belt, Logan Wyatt, Marco Luciano, Patrick Bailey, Chadwick Tromp and Heliot Ramos, with catcher Ricardo Genoves calling the balls and strikes. It did not appear that Cueto walked anyone, and he got into theoretical trouble in his fourth inning of work, when Tromp doubled off the left-field wall with a “runner” on first. He then got Ramos to ground out to third.
Of course, the “results” mean nothing, though they were more encouraging than his last outing. The Giants have wanted the 35-year-old to up his changeup usage because it’s his best pitch, though he struggled last week against the Rangers, who were sitting on that changeup.
“I was working on all my pitches [on Monday],” Cueto said through the Giants’ public relations department after his sim game, after which he ran and hit. “Working on my location and working on hitting the corners.”
Kapler and GM Scott Harris stayed in Scottsdale to watch Cueto’s outing, and soon will get a look at Gausman, who, in sparing appearances this spring, has looked like the ace the Giants signed for the $18.9 million qualifying offer. Cueto, who had the second-worst ERA among qualified starters last season, has struggled again.
Johnny Cueto went 1-2-3 in a theoretical first in this sim game, retiring Belt, Wyatt and getting this Luciano grounder. pic.twitter.com/BTUouJBX8l
— Mark W. Sanchez (@MarkWSanchez) March 22, 2021
In his previous start, last Tuesday, Cueto had issues with control. Spring stats are especially meaningless this year, as pitchers leave in the middle of innings and return regularly, but Cueto exited the third with the bases loaded and was bailed out, then he left the bases loaded in the fourth, too, and Wandy Peralta allowed a grand slam. He was credited with getting seven outs while allowing six hits and four walks.
Cueto should get another turn in the Cactus League, but the Opening Night decision likely will have been made by then.