Gausman sees chances for S.F. to win in NL West
Kevin Gausman, the Giants’ best starting pitcher, isn’t afraid of the big, bad Dodgers or Padres.
The class of the National League West, if not all of the majors, the reigning champion Dodgers and reinforced Padres are expected to blow away the competition in the division, leaving only a battle for third place.
Gausman sees it another way. The righthander referenced his first six seasons in Baltimore when the Yankees and Red Sox dominated the AL East.
“They would beat up on each other in a three or fourgame series on the weekend, and we would come to town and sneak away taking two of three from them,” Gausman said.
Like the beasts of the East, the best of the West promise to have some epic duels.
“Every time they play each other is going to be like a playoff game,” Gausman said. “They’re going to be exhausted when we come to town. That’s one of those things you can take advantage of.
“Everybody’s got us in the dog pound and isn’t really thinking of us doing anything. I think that’s a good position to be in because nobody’s expecting anything, and they’re probably not going to face us as best they can. I think we can take advantage of that.”
The Dodgers signed Trevor Bauer, last year’s NL Cy Young Award winner, while the Padres brought in Blake Snell, who won a Cy Young in 2018, and Yu Darvish, a Cy Young runnerup last year.
“Those teams definitely went out and got guys, especially San Diego,” Gausman said. “They’re going for it. You’ve got to commend an organization like that for doing that. To be honest, we’re all focused on ourselves right now and going into camp and controlling what we can control.”
New arrival: With teams allowed to have 75 players in bigleague camp this spring, the Giants are heading toward capacity.
The team added lefthanded reliever Luis Gonzalez, who pitched in Japan last season, on a minorleague deal with a spring invite, bringing the total in camp to 70. That’s not counting righthander Aaron Sanchez, who The Chronicle reported Tuesday has agreed to a oneyear, $4 million deal with the club.
Gonzalez, 29, spent 10 years in the minors with Philadelphia and Baltimore before playing with Chunichi last season; in 28 games, he put up a 4.78 ERA, struck out 27 and walked nine in 261⁄3 innings. He also had a nice, if brief, season in the Dominican Winter League, with a 1.80 ERA in five games.
“Really, really exciting lefthander who in 2019 with the Orioles threw a lot of strikes,” Giants manager Gabe Kapler said of Gonzalez’s 66 strikeouts in 481⁄3 innings at two levels combined. “Kind of a really high punchout rate.”
Briefly: The Giants will add players’ last names to the backs of their home jerseys this season, as The Chronicle had reported last year was in the plans . ... Kapler said lefthanded reliever Sam Long stood out during Thursday’s bullpen sessions. “Lighted it up today, throwing strikes all over the place,” Kapler said . ... Others turning in impressive work included lefthanders Jake McGee and Alex Wood, Kapler said.