DeSclafani eager to get his chance to pitch in playoffs
Giants fans knew for a long time that Logan Webb and Kevin Gausman would be 1-2 or 2-1 in the team’s playoff rotation, but they had to wait and see if Anthony DeScalafani could step up as the No. 3 starter after he was shelved twice in August.
Well, they waited. And they saw.
And, yes, DeSclafani’s the man.
After DeSclafani and Max Fried dueled for six scoreless innings Sunday, Adam Duvall hit a two-run, seventh-inning homer that chased DeSclafani. It was the third time in four September starts that the right-hander pitched at least six innings and yielded two or fewer runs.
“I’m beyond excited for postseason baseball,” DeSclafani said. “Can’t wait for that opportunity, but we need to finish the regular season first and take care of business now.”
DeSclafani, who twice went on the injured list last month with ankle and shoulder issues, has two more regularseason starts.
Should the Giants advance to a best-of-five Division Series, they’d need just three starters because of off days, and DeSclafani undoubtedly would join Webb and Gausman. Alex Wood, the fourth starter, returned to the mound Saturday and threw 37 pitches over three scoreless innings.
“I see our whole pitching staff as a real strong, solid unit,” DeSclafani said. “I look forward to going to battle with these guys.”
Vaccine mandate: Manager Gabe Kapler doesn’t foresee issues with Major League Baseball’s postseason vaccine mandate for non-playing personnel.
“Our traveling party is nearly entirely vaccinated,” he said. “I don’t know how that impacts what happens in the postseason, but we’re certainly going to be supportive of Major League Baseball’s initiatives and policies and will adhere to them.”
The mandate calls for managers, coaches, athletic trainers and other non-playing personnel to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to be on the field or in restricted areas.
One of the Giants’ hitting coaches, Justin Viele, had to be quarantined after his close contact with second baseman Donovan Solano, who tested positive for the coronavirus (despite being vaccinated) and missed three weeks.
Asked about Viele’s vaccination status, Kapler said, “That’s not something I feel appropriate to share at this time. Our coaches and players need to give me full permission to disclose vaccinated or not vaccinated.”
Wood, who had tested positive for the coronavirus, wouldn’t say after Saturday’s start whether he’s vaccinated.