CINCINNATI — While the Giants’ Opening Day roster features a fair amount of surprises, manager Bob Melvin’s first lineup of the season looks exactly as expected.
Here’s what Melvin is rolling out for the first game of the season:
LaMonte Wade – 1BWilly Adames – SSJung Hoo Lee – CFMatt Chapman – 3BHeliot Ramos – LFPatrick Bailey – CWilmer Flores – DHMike Yastrzemski – RFTyler Fitzgerald – 2BLogan Webb – SP
Ramos, of course, represents the Giants’ 19th different Opening Day left fielder over the last 19 seasons, a streak that began with Barry Bonds in 2007. It’s impossible to predict the future, but Ramos, a first-time All-Star last season, likely has the best chance of breaking that streak next season.
Lee’s status was uncertain a week ago as he dealt with a minor back injury after missing the final week of Cactus League play, but he played in the Giants’ final three exhibitions prior to traveling to Cincinnati and is good to go for the opener.
While Lee is healthy, Wade will be the one to take the Giants’ first plate appearance of the season. Wade, who tweaked his batting stance this offseason, often served as the leadoff hitter this spring while Lee slotted into the three-hole, spot that they’ll both often occupy this season.
Wade will be followed in the lineup by Adames, who signed a franchise-record seven-year, $182 million contract this offseason after totaling career highs in homers (32), steals (21), runs (112) and runs (93). San Francisco will depend on him and Chapman, who signed a six-year, $151 million extension at the end of last season, to provide value on both sides of the ball for the foreseeable future.
Webb will join Juan Marichal, Tim Lincecum and Madison Bumgarner as the only pitchers in franchise history (since the team moved to San Francisco) to start in four consecutive Opening Days. The right-hander has earned Cy Young Award votes in three straight seasons, and after making several noticeable changes this offseason, Webb hopes to capture the hardware this season.