Blach, Stratton look to be in rotation
MESA, Ariz. — When the Giants made their first cuts Monday, rotation prospects
Andrew Suarez and Tyler Beede dodged the reaper. They remain in camp, still in the hunt for jobs.
Their odds, though, are longer than they were at the beginning of spring because the two starters who essentially had jobs to lose have done a great job protecting them.
Ty Blach has looked like the solid starter who replaced an injured Madison Bumgarner in April, allowing four earned runs over 121⁄3 Cactus League innings. Chris Stratton has been even better. Stratton held the A’s to a
Stephen Piscotty solo homer over four innings in Monday’s 6-5 victory. Over 12 innings this spring, he has surrendered two runs. Together, Blach and Stratton have walked seven and struck out 23.
“We were hoping these guys would come and pitch the way they did last year, and both are doing it,” manager Bruce Bochy
said before suggesting he might be ready to announce the full rotation in a week.
Stratton had no command of his signature curveball, which made Monday’s effort more impressive. He compensated with a slider that catcher Nick
Hundley encouraged him to throw.
The cuts: Thirteen players were optioned or reassigned to minor-league camp, with no real surprises.
The most familiar name was left-handed reliever Steven
Okert, who pitched well in his few outings but sits behind
Tony Watson and Josh Osich on the depth chart. Osich has not allowed a run in five outings and has drawn raves for his command and stuff.
Other 40-man players optioned were pitchers Tyler
Herb, Pierce Johnson, Chase Johnson, Reyes Moronta and D.J. Snelton, plus catcher Aramis Garcia and second
baseman Miguel Gomez.
Five nonroster players were assigned to minor-league camp: pitchers Tyler Cyr, Jose Flores, Dereck Rodriguez (son of Ivan) and Madison Younginer, plus infielder Alen Hanson.
As Bochy promised, none of the 10 outfielders in camp was cut. Bochy said all, even prospects Steven Duggar and
Chris Shaw, remain in contention for big-league jobs.
Bullpen insurance? A reliever to remember for down the road: Manny Parra.
The 35-year-old Sacramentoarea native and former Milwaukee starter pitched a perfect ninth inning against the A's. The left-hander is attempting a long-shot comeback after not pitching in the majors since 2015. He toiled in independent ball last year after the Cubs released him.
“The times he’s come over here, he’s thrown the ball well,” Bochy said. “He looks healthy.”
Briefly: Bochy said Evan Longoria (ankle-heel stiffness) could return for Tuesday night’s game against the Cubs or Wednesday night against the Mariners. … Mark Melancon is scheduled to pitch Wednesday after two days off. The staff gave him three days off after his first appearances.