Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
SCOTTSDALE — He’s the right (Gaus)man for the job. The Giants’ ace will be their Opening Day (er, night) starter.
Kevin Gausman will get the ball April 1 in Seattle, Gabe Kapler announced Wednesday, going ceiling over shimmy. Johnny Cueto will follow on April 2, and the manager suggested there’s a good chance Cueto starts the home opener April 9. That would suggest the Giants employ a five-man rotation that cycles through with Gausman pitching again April 7 in San Diego.
The shake-out might be for another day. The Opening one will be for Gausman.
“I think it’s a huge honor for Kevin and very well-deserved based on his performance last year and in some of his lights-out outings already this spring,” Kapler said of Gausman, whom he had talked to a while ago about the start. “It’s always a nice conversation for a manager to have, too. So I’m really excited to watch him pitch on Opening Day.”
Gausman is being paid like an ace, at $18.9 million on the qualifying offer, and now will be the No. 1 in order, as well. He was picked up after the 2019 season, in which he flamed out of a Braves job and then looked solid in relief with Cincinnati, and was rejuvenated in the shortened season and with the Giants’ pitching coaches.
Wherever Gausman is, Logan Webb is. There are intangible benefits to the high-octane righty being around, but the Giants are more excited about the tangible ones.
The starter with the most experience, though, is getting a slight demotion after his Opening Day start last year. There is no debate between the comparative abilities of each starter at this stage of their career, and Cueto has struggled in spring after struggling to a 5.40 ERA last year.
Kapler and Cueto talked a few nights ago about the order, and Kapler reports Cueto is perfectly fine.
“I think he is in an understanding place,” the manager said over Zoom. “Pitching the second game of the season and most likely our home opener is also quite a significant honor.”
In all likelihood, Anthony DeSclafani will take the Seattle mound April 3. The 30-year-old was set to start Wednesday at Scottsdale Stadium against the Padres, which is a matchup the Giants likely would have avoided if DeSclafani were going to face them for his first start of the year.
And the San Diego series is where it gets interesting. Webb has been the best starter in Giants camp and may face the Padres on April 5. Also in the hunt are a few health concerns in Aaron Sanchez (who has thrown three Cactus League innings, with his stuff taking a dip in the third frame) and Alex Wood (who had an ablation procedure last week and is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Thursday). If both are ready, perhaps the Giants would have them tag-team one game, in which each could throw about three innings. If either is not ready, Nick Tropeano could take one’s place.
There will be a lot of rotation options for the Giants to sort through. But not on Opening Day.