Giants show off lineup as opening day approaches
San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler frequently warns against reading too much into the way he writes out his spring training lineups.
On the final day of exhibition games, it was OK to ignore Kapler’s advice.
The lineup the Giants used for Monday’s exhibition finale against the Oakland A’s had all the names fans should expect to see when the club travels to Seattle to meet the Mariners on Opening Day. With lefthander Sean Manaea on the mound for Oakland in Mesa, the Giants loaded their lineup with right-handed hitters, much like they’re expected to do on Thursday when they face Seattle southpaw Marco Gonzales.
The Giants’ lineup for their 12:05 p.m. exhibition against the A’s looked like this:
1. Austin Slater, LF
2. Mike Yastrzemski, RF
3. Donovan Solano, 2B
4. Evan Longoria, 3B
5. Wilmer Flores, DH
6. Buster Posey, C
7. Brandon Crawford, SS
8. Mauricio Dubón, CF
9. Logan Webb, P
The obvious difference in what fans can expect Thursday in Seattle is that right-hander Kevin Gausman will make the start for the Giants in place of Webb, who is slated to pitch the series finale on Saturday. Vet
eran right-hander Johnny Cueto has been announced as the team’s No. 2 starter, which will line him up to start the home opener on Friday, April 9 against the Rockies.
One of the reasons Monday’s lineup looks similar to what fans should see on Opening Day is left fielder Austin Slater’s presence in the leadoff spot. Kapler views Slater as an excellent option atop the order against left-handed pitchers because the versatile outfielder works deep counts, posted a .469 onbase percentage against lefties last year and also led the Giants in stolen bases with eight in 31 games.
If Slater starts in left field on Thursday, he’ll become the 14th different Giants left fielder in the 14 Opening Day games since Barry Bonds last manned the position for San Francisco. Alex Dickerson, who started in left field last year against the Dodgers, only had 12 plate appearances against lefties last season and appears likely to be available off the bench on Thursday.
Regardless of whether the Giants face a righty or a lefty, Yastrzemski is expected to hit in the second slot in the order quite often as he’ll likely bat behind infielder Tommy La Stella when the Giants face righthanded starters.
A big change Giants fans should anticipate in 2021 is seeing Posey further down in the lineup that he’s appeared in past years. Posey was slated to hit sixth for the second consecutive day on Monday, but he’s only started in the sixth slot in the order 19 times in his career.
The Giants actually have an opportunity to slide at least two more righthanded hitters into their Opening Day lineup, but Kapler may prefer to wait before being more aggressive with platoons. If the Giants go with the eight position players listed for Monday’s exhibition on Thursday in Seattle, that will leave La Stella, Dickerson, outfielder Darin Ruf and backup catcher Curt Casali on the bench.
A lineup full of righthanded bats would likely feature Ruf in left field, Slater in center, Dubón at shortstop, Flores at first base and Casali as the DH, which would allow the Giants to have Crawford and Belt come off the bench. Given the desire to stabilize the team’s infield defense and show respect to longtime veteran starters in Crawford and Belt who have earned the chance to play on Opening Day, it seems unlikely the Giants will platoon at shortstop and first base right out of the gates.