SF Giants announce Opening Day starter
There's plenty of uncertainty around the SF Giants this spring, from injuries, to roster battles, to two-way players, to Gabe Kapler's status as the most attractive man in San Francisco with Jimmy Garoppolo moving to Las Vegas.
SF Giants pitcher Logan Webb throws a pitch against the Rockies. (2022)
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
But there's no uncertainty about who the ace of the Giants staff is. That's why it's no surprise that Logan Webb will be making his second straight Opening Day start on March 30th in Yankee Stadium.
Webb is the first pitcher to start openers in consecutive years since Madison Bumgarner did it four years in a row from 2014-17. (It would have been six straight but for a broken finger - not suffered on a dirt bike.) He's likely to face Yankees ace Gerrit Cole, Brandon Crawford's brother-in-law.
Since Webb returned from a shoulder strain in 2021, he's gone 22-9 for the Giants, starting two games in the NLDS that season. Last year he had a 2.90 ERA, and ranked ninth in the National League in wins above replacement.
The Giants figure to see last year's other star pitcher, Carlos Rodon, in the opening series in New York. Rodon signed with the Yankees for six years and $162 million, joining almost-Giant Aaron "Arson" Judge. For the record, the Giants won't see Carlos Correa until May 22 in Minnesota.
Webb opted out of pitching for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic in order to focus on spring training. Given the way his teammates are dropping like flies, it may have been a wise move to focus on building up his strength.
Right now, the rest of the rotation is undecided. Alex Cobb will pitch the second game if his knee isn't too swollen. After that, it could be any of the team's seven starters, although Jakob Junis will likely start the season in the bullpen.
Logan Webb! Gerrit Cole! It'll be a true rumble in the Bronx between the Yankees and SF Giants in just two weeks.
