Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
The Giants will be more comfortable playing at home, opening their Oracle Park slate of the schedule today.
They will be less comfortable facing a righty starter.
After their lefty-heavy lineups scored two total runs in blowouts against the Dodgers on Thursday and Friday, the Giants are turning to a similar look against San Diego righty Zach Davies.
Here is Tuesday’s lineup for a home-opener like no other, which only cutouts will witness:
1. Mike Yastrzemski, CF
2. Pablo Sandoval, 1B
3. Wilmer Flores, 3B
4. Alex Dickerson, DH
5. Tyler Heineman, C
6. Brandon Crawford, SS
7. Jaylin Davis, RF
8. Joe McCarthy, LF
9. Mauricio Dubon, 2B
Without Donovan Solano in the lineup and before Evan Longoria’s return, Wilmer Flores is back at third, where he has struggled early. Tyler Heineman, the switch-hitting catcher who separated himself from Rob Brantly before Brantly was DFA’d Tuesday, has gotten on base six times in his first 11 plate appearances, and now rises to fifth in the order. The Giants have cited reverse splits with Jaylin Davis, meaning the righty has hit righties better than lefties.
Joe McCarthy may be the polarizing lineup inclusion, the 26-year-old rookie struggling in his major league debut. He was overwhelmed by quality Dodgers pitching, 0-for-8 with three strikeouts in his first big-league at-bats, but the Giants like his plate discipline and lack lefty options with Brandon Belt and Billy Hamilton still out.
These will be the nine supporting Jeff Samardzija, who notably did not pitch at Dodger Stadium and now will get the ball ready to go four-plus, Gabe Kapler has said.