INTRASQUAD SCRIMMAGES SHOW POSSIBLE STARTERS
SAN FRANCISCO » With fewer than two weeks until the Giants travel to Los Angeles for Opening Day at Dodger Stadium, the team has transitioned from holding live batting practice sessions to intrasquad scrimmages at Oracle Park.
The Giants are planning on playing a pair of exhibition games against the Oakland A’s (July 20, 21) but the coronavirus pandemic will force clubs across baseball to prepare for a season in an unusual manner.
In lieu of spending five weeks playing against opposing clubs in spring training, teams are left to hold intrasquad games and hope players are ready to jump headfirst into a condensed 60-game season.
If you’re wondering what’s happening out at Oracle Park, here’s a look at how the Giants are readying themselves for the regular season.
Here’s Johnny
Johnny Cueto pitched in a live batting practice Friday and was initially scheduled to throw two innings and face eight or nine hitters.
The right-hander and likely Opening Day starter was so efficient the Giants scrambled to send extra hitters to the plate each “inning” because Cueto recorded several one and two-pitch outs. Cueto allowed two hits including a hardhit double down the right field line to Joey Bart, but also recorded eight groundball including an easy 6-4-3 double play after giving up a single to Donovan Solano.
The Giants don’t have the radar gun turned on in the ballpark, but Cueto’s velocity appeared normal and he’s not the type of pitcher