Gausman set to start for Giants on Opening Day
SF’s right-handed pitcher last started opener in 2017
There’s officially a new tone-setter atop the Giants’ starting rotation.
Giants manager Gabe Kapler announced Wednesday that right-hander Kevin Gausman will start for the team on Opening Day against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park.
Fellow right-hander Johnny Cueto started for the Giants on Opening Day last season, but after Cueto posted a 5.40 ERA in 12 outings and battled command issues at times this spring, the Giants went in a different direction and tabbed their best pitcher from a season ago.
Gausman’s start on April 1 will mark the second Opening Day nod of his career. He took the ball for the Baltimore Orioles in the opener in 2017, throwing 5 1/3 innings of two-run ball in a 3-2 win over the Detroit Tigers.
Gausman becomes the Giants’ fourth different Opening Day starter in four seasons, following Cueto in 2020, lefty Ty Blach in 2019 and Madison Bumgarner in 2018. Blach started the season-opener in 2019 as a fillin for Bumgarner after the veteran southpaw fractured his hand in his final outing of Cactus League play, forcing him to miss the first two months of the regular season.
With a 3.62 ERA in 12 outings last season, Gausman was the Giants’ most consistent pitcher and performed well enough to receive a one-year, $18.9 million qualifying offer from the organization. Despite receiving interest from multiple teams, Gausman chose to return to San Francisco, citing his desire to remain with an organization that’s helping him maximize his potential and the chance to work with veteran catcher Buster Posey.