Giants tab Webb as Opening Day starter for fifth straight season

6:00 PM UTC

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.”