Stratton set to start Giants' spring opener

Blach also to pitch Saturday; Bumgarner starting Sunday vs. Cubs

February 22nd, 2019

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Soggy, frigid weather shortened the Giants’ workout at Scottsdale Stadium on Friday, but the rain is expected to clear by Saturday, just in time for the club’s Cactus League opener against the Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium (12:10 p.m. PT).

Right-hander is scheduled to start for the Giants and will be followed by left-hander . They will be opposed by Angels left-hander Dillon Peters.

Several offseason additions are expected to make their Giants debuts on Saturday, including outfielder , infielder and Rule 5 Draft pick .

Here is the full lineup scheduled to start for the Giants:

  1. Cameron Maybin, RF
  1. Abiatal Avelino, SS
  1. Yangervis Solarte, 3B
  1. Mac Williamson, LF
  1. Austin Slater, 1B
  1. Aramis Garcia, C
  1. Henry Ramos, DH
  1. Donovan Solano, 2B
  1. Drew Ferguson, CF

Stratton, 28, is entering a big spring, as he is out of options and will be one of seven pitchers competing for a spot in the Giants’ rotation. Madison Bumgarner already has one spot locked up, as does Jeff Samardzija, if he can show he’s past the shoulder issues that hampered his 2018 season. Derek Holland and Drew Pomeranz, who both signed one-year deals over the offseason, are also likely to start for the Giants.

Dereck Rodriguez and Andrew Suarez are coming off impressive rookie campaigns for the Giants, but they have options and aren’t guaranteed to open the season in the Majors, which could help create an opening for Stratton to snag the fifth spot in the rotation.

“We’ve got seven starters, so we’ve got to get this thing down before we break camp,” manager Bruce Bochy said Friday. “When you look at them, that’s a lot of arms. We have some really good options and a lot of depth.”

Blach, 28, started for the Giants on Opening Day last year after Bumgarner sustained a fractured left hand after being hit by a line drive in the final Spring Training game. But Blach is being viewed as more of a long-relief option. The Giants would like to have him stretched out in the event of an injury, though.

“You never know,” Bochy said. “You saw what happened last year. He ended up being our Opening Day starter. So we’re going to have all these guys ready, stretched out, especially early in the season. You don’t take your starters all that deep, but you want to keep that flexibility if anything happens.”

Giant Sunday

Evan Longoria, Joe Panik, Brandon Crawford and Brandon Belt will be among the Giants position players who are scheduled to play Sunday against the Cubs at Scottsdale Stadium. Bumgarner will be on the mound in his first Cactus League outing of the spring.

Braving the cold

Samardzija, Rodriguez and Sam Coonrod took the field on Friday, with temperatures hovering near 40 degrees, to throw their second bullpen sessions of the week.

“These guys were great today,” Bochy said. “It was cold, but they went out and got their work. I’m not going to lie, it would be nice to have our Arizona weather and get it back to what I think we’ll have tomorrow.”

Waiver claim

The Giants claimed infielder Hanser Alberto off waivers from the Orioles on Friday. Right-hander Jake Barrett was designated for assignment to clear a spot for Alberto on the 40-man roster.

Alberto, 26, can play all over the infield and batted .330 with a .797 OPS and seven home runs over 101 games for Triple-A Round Rock in 2018. He appeared in 13 games for the Rangers, going 5-for-27 (.185) with two doubles.