Giants tab Webb as Opening Day starter for fifth straight season
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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Logan Webb shined in his two starts for Team USA this month, giving up one run over 8 2/3 innings to help lead the American squad into the World Baseball Classic semifinals.
When he returns to Giants camp next week, Webb will have yet another big assignment to gear up for.
Manager Tony Vitello said Webb will start for the Giants on Opening Night against the Yankees on March 25 at Oracle Park. It will mark the fifth consecutive Opening Day start for Webb, who now owns the second-longest streak in franchise history behind Hall of Famer Juan Marichal (6).
Webb worked 4 2/3 scoreless innings on 71 pitches to set the tone for Team USA’s 5-3 win over Canada in their WBC quarterfinal matchup on Friday. The 29-year-old won’t pitch again in the tournament, but he’s expected to stay with Team USA for the entirety of its WBC run.
The Americans are scheduled to face the Dominican Republic in a highly anticipated semifinal clash on Sunday and could play until Tuesday if they advance to the final round. Webb is slated to make one final Cactus League start for the Giants this coming Friday, which will serve as his final tuneup before Opening Day.
“He basically was as close to hitting the mark we wanted him to hit yesterday as possible and did it at a high level of competition,” Vitello said Saturday. “That was great. He kind of finished that next step, and then he’ll be ready for the season.”
Devers breaks out
Rafael Devers was hitless across his seven Spring Training appearances coming into Saturday’s 8-7 loss to the D-backs, but he snapped his 0-for-19 start to the spring by singling in the third inning and then launching a three-run home run in his next at-bat in the fourth.
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Devers missed some time with hamstring tightness earlier in camp, so he’s still working on getting into a consistent rhythm at the plate.
“He’s just trying to hit that thing about 5,000 feet,” Vitello said before the game. “You don’t mind that intent at all. It’s just a matter of how you approach it. I think it’s probably a more technical conversation with our hitting guys. But he’s jumping at that thing and trying to launch, which is fine. He’s always going to be aggressive. It makes his at-bats really fun.”
Encarnacion heating up
Jerar Encarnacion also got off to a slow start in Cactus League play, but he’s started to turn it around this week. He went 2-for-4 with an RBI on Friday to bump his batting average to .300 over 17 games, which could help boost his case for a spot on the Opening Day roster.
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“Jerar is inspiring right now, the way he’s playing,” Vitello said. “He’s kind of hanging out in the box with a comfort zone, and he’s really busting his [butt] on defense and on the bases.”
Encarnacion offers intriguing right-handed pop, so he could be an option to serve as the Giants’ designated hitter if the club decides to have No. 1 prospect Bryce Eldridge open the season at Triple-A Sacramento. Encarnacion is out of options, so he can’t be sent to the Minors without being exposed to waivers.
Worth noting
• Infielder Parks Harber, who is ranked the Giants’ No. 14 prospect per MLB Pipeline, departed the game after suffering a right hamstring strain while attempting to advance from first to third base in the bottom of the seventh on Saturday. Harber, 24, had performed well in his first big league camp, batting .357 (10-for-28) with one home run over 17 games.
• Rule 5 Draft pick Daniel Susac, the frontrunner for the backup catcher job, went 2-for-3 with his first homer of the spring, bringing his batting average up to .345 over 12 Cactus League games.
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“The ball jumps off his bat,” Vitello said. “He does a really good job of using the big part of the park. I think if you take into account the fact that he’s hit well in some spots, he’s hit for a little bit of power, he’s thrown well, he’s getting better and better back there behind the plate -- he’s really had a well-rounded Spring Training.”
• Left-hander Joey Lucchesi gave up one run on three hits over one inning in his spring debut against the D-backs. The 32-year-old rejoined the Giants on a Minor League deal on Tuesday and should have a chance to compete for a bullpen spot this month.