Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
SCOTTSDALE — Johnny Cueto wants to pitch more innings and to pitch his own way. If his first spring outing is any indication, he’ll get a chance to do so.
The veteran Giants starter was excellent in his brief debut, allowing a hit and no walks with four strikeouts in two innings against the Royals on Saturday.
Every shimmy and fastball and changeup will be placed under a further microscope this season after his struggles (5.40 ERA) during the shortened season last year. And any signs of progress will represent hope around the Giants that Cueto can return to his two-time All-Star form.
“Thought it was a great performance by Johnny, did a great job mixing his pitches, mixing his tempo like he always does,” Gabe Kapler said after the 8-6 loss at Scottsdale Stadium. “Attacking the strike zone — just two quick, solid, professional innings.”
Cueto required just eight pitches — seven strikes, with some unhappiness about the called ball — to put down Kansas City in the first. His fastball lived around 92 mph, but he reached back for his hardest pitch of the day, a 94-mph heater that went past Salvador Perez’s bat. His fastball averaged 91.3 mph last year.
He worked in his changeup often, and the Giants have talked about upping the usage of a pitch that opposing batters hit .125 against last year.
“That’s a suggestion, but I will make that decision when I’m pitching,” Cueto said through translator Erwin Higueros.
Kapler, while again complimenting the changeup, agreed and wants his pitchers to throw pitches that they want to throw. Cueto went to his changeup 27 percent of the time last year, according to Fangraphs, which was a career high.
“We do offer up information on their pitches and tell them how those pitches play,” the manager said over Zoom, “but at the end of the day, we want our pitchers to have the ultimate conviction when they deliver a pitch.”
Cueto also has stated that he wanted to pitch deeper into games than he was allowed last season. He and Kapler have not discussed any different handling this campaign.
“We’ll go ahead and cross that bridge when we come to it,” said the 35-year-old, who’s entering the last guaranteed year of his contract. “The only thing I can do right now is just continue working.”
Kapler has said he’s not sure if a meeting will be necessary; if Cueto is pitching well, he will naturally pitch deeper into games. If Cueto continues to pitch like he did Saturday, plenty of potential frustrations can be avoided.
Kapler on lefty Jose Alvarez, whom the Giants signed Saturday and whom Kapler managed in Philadelphia:
“Very dependable, durable reliever who is ready to take the ball in any situation. Throws strikes, misses some bats, pretty good against left and right. And a nice addition to our pen, going to fit right in.”
Will Wilson, whose bat impressed Friday, had a rough time at third base Saturday. In the sixth he bobbled a Bobby Witt Jr. infield hit, then threw very wide of Darin Ruf on an Andrew Benintendi grounder.
He partly made up for it by out-sprinting Nick Heath to third. The base-runner tried to sneak over from second for the steal, but Wandy Peralta and Wilson identified it early enough.
Donovan Solano has said he wants to add more power to his game, and the Silver Slugger winner drilled a fifth-inning homer to left.
Jason Vosler continued his hot spring by going 3-for-3, though his triple resulted from Kansas City outfield miscommunication. The offseason signing is now 6-for-13 (.462) in the Cactus League.
Tyler Rogers allowed a two-run shot, as did Trevor Gott in his spring debut, and Peralta surrendered three runs, but got little help from his defense. Sam Selman, who sawed off Jorge Soler’s bat for a double play, pitched well, as did Matt Wisler. Camilo Doval struck out two in a perfect inning.
