SAN DIEGO — Following his latest tuneup, Blake Snell was back in the visitors’ clubhouse at Petco Park prior to first pitch Saturday, and it may not be long before the reigning National League Cy Young winner joins San Francisco Giants’ starting rotation.
Snell threw four innings Friday night at Scottsdale Stadium against the Giants’ Double-A hitters with the expected results for one of the majors’ most overpowering pitchers against a lineup of minor leaguers. He racked up 11 strikeouts while allowing three hits, throwing 74 pitches, manager Bob Melvin relayed Saturday.
“He’s been known to strike some people out,” Melvin said but declined to provide many more details.
Melvin wasn’t ready to commit to penciling in Snell for his next turn through the rotation, saying that he still needed to discuss next steps with the left-hander. But if Snell stays on turn, the next time he would be scheduled to pitch would line up with the finale of the Giants’ road trip Wednesday at Dodger Stadium.
Snell has made six career starts at Dodger Stadium with a 1.80 ERA, plus Games 2 and 6 of the 2020 World Series, when Snell combined to limit the eventual champions to three runs over 10 innings while striking out 18. In 2022, Snell helped the Padres clinch a three-game sweep of the Dodgers in the NLDS, earning the win with 5⅓ innings in the decisive Game 3 at Petco Park.
Informed of Snell’s success against the Dodgers, Melvin smiled and said, “I heard that somewhere.”
While Snell was on hand Saturday, he was not available during the time the clubhouse is opened to reporters.
Another number the Giants are factoring in is 1.36, or the difference in Snell’s career ERA in the first half of the season (3.82) versus his mark after the All-Star break (2.46). Snell has historically been a slow starter, troubles that could potentially be magnified by his delayed arrival to spring training. Even during his Cy Young campaign last season had a 5.48 ERA at the end of April.
“We don’t talk about that, but I’m aware of that,” Melvin said. “So is he.”
Yastrzemski due back Monday
Mike Yastrzemski is expected to meet the Giants in Los Angeles on Monday for the start of their series against the Dodgers.
Yastrzemski’s wife, Paige, gave birth Friday to the couple’s second child. Michael Cahill Yastrzemski, nicknamed “Kai,” was born at 4:48 p.m., weighing 8 pounds, 14 ounces. After starting in right field Thursday for Opening Day, Yastrzemski will have missed three games in total on the paternity list.
With Yastrzemski due back, that will likely bring an end to Luis Matos’ time on the roster.
Wade back in the outfield
For the second game in a row Saturday, Melvin kept the young outfielder on the bench in favor of LaMonte Wade Jr., who got the start in right field with Wilmer Flores at first base.
Melvin has said Wade will play more of the outfield this season after logging only 20 games there last year, mostly as a late-game substitution. The decision to keep Matos out of the lineup, Melvin explained, had to do with maximizing the left-handed hitters in the lineup against San Diego righty Dylan Cease.
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“And Wilmer Flores is pretty good,” Melvin added.
Who will start Sunday?
Keaton Winn is expected to start Monday’s series opener in Los Angeles, but before then, the Giants have a hole to fill in their rotation.
Melvin said he would know who would start Sunday’s series finale in San Diego after Saturday’s game had finished but indicated it could be a pitcher not currently on the roster. The obvious option is Daulton Jefferies, who consistently threw strikes all spring but was left off the Opening Day roster.
Where it could get complicated is adding Jefferies to the 40-man roster, where the Giants would have to open a spot to add him. It could spell the end of Joey Bart’s tenure with him taking up valuable space as the third catcher on the active roster. Bart cannot be sent to the minors without being designated for assignment, which would also remove him from the 40-man roster.