Kapler mulled options, but then picks DeSclafani
DeSclafani “is prepared for this, he wants it.”
Gabe Kapler, Giants manager
LOS ANGELES — Who was starting Game 4 for the Giants? Heading into Game 3, the team was keeping all its options open based on what happened Monday.
Anthony DeSclafani was the logical choice if all went well with Alex Wood in Game 3 of the NL Division Series at Dodger Stadium, but had DeSclafani been pressed into action Monday, the Giants would have been left with the choice of a bullpen game in Game 4, and even using Game 1 starter Logan Webb or Game 2 starter Kevin Gausman in a mustwin game Tuesday. But DeSclafani was not put to work in the Giants’ 1-0 Game 3 win.
All else being equal, after Monday’s win, the Giants confirmed that DeSclafani would get the start.
“He’s prepared for this, he wants it, he’s ready and he’s the right choice for us,” manager Gabe Kapler said after the Game 3 win of DeSclafani finally getting named to start Game 4.
Before the game, Kapler said, “I always want to try to keep everything on the table. Anything’s possible. And I do think that both Gausman and Webb have been pretty durable pitchers for us, and Webb in particular has been especially durable and has been bouncing back very well.
“Neither one of them have been especially taxed from a pitchcount perspective. I just want to kind of stay open to any possibilities. The postseason is a different animal than the regular season.”
The Giants had some success with bullpen games early in September when Wood was on the COVID-IL and Johnny Cueto was out with an elbow injury, but as the relief corps got more taxed, the results weren’t quite as good. With four days off before the Division Series and another day off between Games 2 and 3, the bullpen is well rested.
Watson update: Reliever Tony Watson, who is on the injured list with a shoulder strain, said he has been playing catch for four days and still is holding out some hope he might be able to pitch in the NLCS if the Giants advance. He is not yet throwing off the mound.
“I’m obviously under a crunch time with it being October,” the left-hander said, “but I’m trying to get back as fast as I can. Playing in October is what it’s all about.”